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Home › Baby Names Directory › Callisto

Callisto

♀ Girl

Pronounced kuh-LIS-toh /kəˈlɪs.to/Medium

Meaning: From the Greek kallistos, 'most beautiful' (from kalos, 'beautiful'); a nymph loved by Zeus and turned into a bear, then set in the sky as the Great Bear (Ursa Major); we note the mythLow

In 30 seconds: Most beautiful: Callisto is a Greek nymph of myth. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'kuh-LIS-toh'). We note the myth.
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Origin LowGreek
MeaningFrom the Greek kallistos, 'most beautiful' (from kalos, 'beautiful'); a nymph loved by Zeus and turned into a bear, then set in the sky as the Great Bear (Ursa Major); we note the myth
U.S. rank (2024)#13748 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 77

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219982024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Callisto comes from the Greek kallistos, 'most beautiful' (from kalos, 'beautiful'); a nymph loved by Zeus and turned into a bear, then set in the sky as Ursa Major (we note the myth). A lyrical, classic name (said 'kuh-LIS-toh').

In the U.S. it appears rarely as a mythology name (also a moon of Jupiter). Rare, most-beautiful at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Callisto is 'most beautiful' in Greek (from kalos) — a nymph turned into a bear and set in the sky as the Great Bear (Ursa Major) — a lyrical, storied name (we note the myth; said 'kuh-LIS-toh').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Callisto — Greek mythology

Variations

KallistoCalisto

Nicknames

Callie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Callisto…

Danae— a fellow love of Zeus
Leda— a companion love of Zeus
Artemis— the goddess she served
Erato— a fellow Greek choice
Cynthia— another Greek name

Explore names like Callisto

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Callisto mean?

Callisto is Greek for 'most beautiful' (from kalos); a nymph turned into the Great Bear. We note the myth.

How do you pronounce Callisto?

It's said kuh-LIS-toh /kəˈlɪs.to/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Callisto a boy or girl name?

Callisto is a girl's name.

How popular is Callisto?

Callisto is a very rare name in the U.S.

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