Calista
Girl name · #1594 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Calista scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Calista is most common
Geography matters for names, and Calista is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Calistas were CA (27), FL (8), OH (8), WA (7), GA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.