Callisto

Meaning of Callisto

Callisto is a unisex name of Greek origin, derived from kallistos meaning “most beautiful.” In classical myth it belonged to an Arcadian nymph favored by Artemis, whose transformation into a bear and subsequent placement among the stars as Ursa Major lend the name a quiet grandeur. Centuries later, astronomers borrowed the moniker for one of Jupiter’s moons, adding a cosmic layer to its heritage—one that has yet to complicate a single bedtime story. Though it remains rare in the United States, hovering around the mid-900s in recent years with fewer than ten annual occurrences, Callisto appeals to parents drawn to a blend of classical resonance and modern distinction. Pronounced in English as kuh-LIS-toh, the name’s flowing cadence bridges ancient myth and contemporary style.