Calista
Girl name · #1594 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Calista? In official American birth records, Calista has been tracked continuously since 1894, giving it 131 years of documented American history.
Calista is currently the #1594 girl name in the United States — 131 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1372, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,740 girls born in 2025 was named Calista.
Babies named Calista per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 131-year story
Calista first appears in the Social Security records in 1894, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 490 girls were named Calista — good for #519 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Calista against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Calista in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Calista is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Calista will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Calista is most common
State-level data for Calista is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Calista
Statistically, parents drawn to Calista tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Callista, Kalista, Alaysha, Cienna, and Ayanna.
CallistaKalistaAlayshaCiennaAyannaCarsonPriscilaNoelia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Calista | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 131 | #1592 |
| 2024 | 151 | #1452 |
| 2023 | 120 | #1709 |
| 2022 | 114 | #1793 |
| 2021 | 139 | #1516 |
| 2020 | 99 | #1924 |
| 2019 | 164 | #1373 |
| 2018 | 130 | #1633 |
| 2017 | 149 | #1489 |
| 2016 | 183 | #1307 |
| 2015 | 172 | #1372 |
| 2014 | 155 | #1454 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1371 |
| 2012 | 196 | #1237 |
| 2011 | 210 | #1164 |
| 2010 | 235 | #1054 |
| 2009 | 191 | #1272 |
| 2008 | 207 | #1222 |
| 2007 | 264 | #1001 |
| 2006 | 231 | #1093 |
| 2005 | 223 | #1067 |
| 2004 | 282 | #870 |
| 2003 | 271 | #889 |
| 2002 | 305 | #775 |
| 2001 | 358 | #697 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Calista?
In official American birth records, the name Calista first appeared in 1894 (over 131 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Calista a popular girl name?
Calista ranked #1594 among girls in 2025 with 131 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1372.
When was the name Calista most popular?
Calista peaked in 1999, when 490 American girls received the name (ranked #519 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Calista?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,740 newborn American girls was named Calista. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.