Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Calista

      Origin

      Greek

      Meaning

      Beautiful

      Variations

      Calissa, Caliste, Colista
      The name Calista has its roots in ancient Greece and is derived from the Greek word kalos, meaning beautiful. In Greek mythology, Calista was a nymph who caught the attention of the hunter Arcas, which sparked the jealousy of the goddess Hera. To protect Calista, Zeus transformed her into a she-bear and Arcas into a bear cub, placing them both among the stars as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. This mythological association with beauty and the stars further enhances the allure and symbolism of the name Calista.

      Throughout history, the name Calista has maintained a modest but consistent presence. It has been used sparingly in literature, with occasional appearances in works such as John Milton's Paradise Lost and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust. However, it is in modern times that Calista has truly gained prominence. In celebrity circles, the name has found popularity, particularly with actress Calista Flockhart, known for her role as Ally McBeal. Furthermore, Calista has become a favored choice by parents seeking a unique and elegant name for their daughters. Its appeal lies not only in its melodious sound but also in its rich historical and mythological associations, making Calista a name that exudes beauty and grace.

      Based on our records...

      Garcia

      Garcia

      This is the most common surname associated with Calista.
      William

      William

      This is the most common name of those married to a Calista.
      William

      William

      This is the most common name for a child of a Calista.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1845 is when there were the most people born with the first name Calista.

      Explore the origins of another name.