UK girl's name
Kalista
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "most beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kalista is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kalista popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 6 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Kalista. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kalista ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 6 girls were registered as Kalista.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kalista as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2012
6 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Kalista mean?
The name Kalista is a modern invented name, believed to be derived from the Greek word "kallistos," meaning "most beautiful" or "fairest." It gained popularity in the late 20th century, likely inspired by the aesthetic appeal of its sound and meaning.
While the name Kalista itself does not have a long historical lineage, it draws inspiration from the rich heritage of Greek mythology and language. The Greek word "kallistos" is closely related to the name Callisto, a nymph in Greek mythology who was transformed into a bear by the goddess Artemis.
Historically, there are no recorded instances of the name Kalista being used in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. However, its similarity to names like Calista and Kallista, which share the same Greek roots, suggests a connection to the concept of beauty and aesthetic appeal.
The earliest documented use of the name Kalista is relatively recent, with records indicating its appearance in the late 20th century. One of the earliest notable individuals with this name is Kalista Diamantopoulos, a Greek writer and journalist born in 1960.
Other individuals who have borne the name Kalista include:
1. Kalista Zackhariyas, an Indian actress born in 1982, known for her work in Malayalam cinema. 2. Kalista Safford, an American actress and model born in 1976, best known for her roles in television shows like "Married... with Children" and "The Parkers." 3. Kalista Tazlin, an American singer and songwriter born in 1986, known for her work in the pop and R&B genres. 4. Kalista Kavalieros, a Greek-American artist and illustrator born in 1978, known for her whimsical and imaginative artworks. 5. Kalista Griffiths-Mabry, an American basketball player born in 1992, who played for the University of Missouri and in professional leagues.
While the name Kalista is a relatively modern creation, its Greek roots and association with beauty and aesthetic appeal have contributed to its increasing popularity in recent decades, particularly in Western countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kalista over time
The chart below shows babies named Kalista registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kalista, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kalista by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kalista was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4192 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3681 | 6 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4699 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kalista
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kalista: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kalista in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kalista was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Kalista most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 6 babies registered as Kalista in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kalista?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "most beautiful".
How many people are called Kalista in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Kalista across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.