Calista

ka-LIS-tuh; ka-LEES-ta

Greek

"most beautiful"

Calista Origin and Meaning

The name Calista is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "most beautiful".

Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she introduced a whole sensibility. Pretty and delicate, Calista is definitely worthy of consideration, especially for parents with Greek roots.

In ancient myth, Calista (or Calisto)was a nymph loved by Zeus, whose jealous wife Hera turned her into a bear.

Nicknames Callie (or Cali), Cassie, Calla, Issy, Lissy, or Kit add extra appeal.

Calista Rank in US Top 1000

# 866 in the US

Calista Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 645 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Calista

• 645 Nameberry 2025
• 703 Unique 2023

20 Names Similar to Calista

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Calista.

• Serafina
• Callista
• Nessa
• Seraphine
• Noemi
• Dalia
• Corinna
• Oriana
• Astoria
• Rhiannon
• Evelina
• Irina
• Larissa
• Marisol
• Enya
• Siobhan
• Davina
• Carina
• Livia
• Priya

Famous People Named Calista

• Calista Flockhart American actress
• Calista H. Vinton American missionary to Burma
• Calista Kazuko Robertson English reality TV personality ("Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack")
• Calista Carradine daughter of actor David Carradine

The name Calista in Pop Culture

• Calista Cross character in the Spy High series by A.J. Butcher
• Calista Secor aka Retro Girl character in the "Powers" comics
• Calista character in 2006 film "Dreamland"
• Calista character in "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
• Calista Jacobs character in the mystery series by Kathryn Lasky
• Calista Cod character in an episode of TV's "Pushing Daisies"
• Calista character in "The Fair Penitent" by Nicholas Rowe
• Calista character in "Love,Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister" by Aphra Behn
• Calista character in "The Guardian" by Philip Massinger