The name Calista

cakebatter27

...like Calista Flockhart. DH really likes it and it's growing on me. It's a real name and not trendy or popular which I like.

What do you think? What's some nicknames besides Callie?

If we go with it I get to pick the middle name which will be Lillian after my grandma Lilli Anna. And no, DH nixed Lillian as a FN.

Thoughts? Opinions?

TIA!

Edit: grandma's name is Lilli Anna not Lillian Anna.

pantherRN

Love it.

katnipeverclean

Honestly, NMS, but I like it for someone else if that makes sense. Unlike Jaxson which I just can't stand.

What about Listie for a NN? And I love Lillian.

tourqeyes

I'm indifferent to it. Personally don't love it or don't hate it.

However, to the comment about nicknames you could go with Callie. ETA: To which I see you already mentioned. That's all I got on nicknames.

runrinserepeat

I like it, and I think the nn Callie is cute. I also like Calliope - same nn, no Ally McBeal connection.

mrscurlygurl

It's so specific to Calista Flockhart...I could never get past that. I can't think of another example of a name that makes you only think of one person in that way...except maybe Madonna.

I do like Calliope though.

tarynkim

I think it's really pretty! It may be a bit of a mouth full with Lillian as a middle name though.

juellarose

That was my favorite girl name but we just found out we're having a boy!!

My nn would've been Cal or Calis (Ca-lees)

January Bride

I like it, but as far as nicknames are concerned I really only like the nickname Callie.  I don't only associate it with Calista Flockhart because I knew a girl in high school with that name before I knew who Calista Flockhart was.

I love the middle name Lillian as well. 

sxymamakat

You know how sometimes a word makes a weird association in your head, even when there is no logical reason for it?  For some reason, I see Calista, and think Caligula, and it's all negatives from there.  I'm probably the only person on the planet with the association, but you did ask for all opinions! 

If you ignore my previous irrationality, I agree with Taryn that Calista Lillian is one heck of a mouthful. 

acciovino

I think it's beautiful and unique but not too unique. Callie as a NN would be cute too.

tourqeyes

When you guys Calliope....how is this pronounced? I keep saying it like you would antelope but calliope.

runrinserepeat

tourqeyes said:

When you guys Calliope....how is this pronounced? I keep saying it like you would antelope but calliope.

ka-LYE-oh-pee

abchittam

^^ I automatically think Grey's Anatomy. It's the only place I have ever heard that name.

eortman

I like it. You could actually use Lilly as a nickname if you wanted to choose a different middle name.

EllaSmella

I like it, but it makes me think of Ally McBeal. But this won't be a problem for your daughter's generation, so I wouldn't let it deter me. In fact, the more I think about it, I really like that name.

Jennik30

I like it, but can't think of a nickname.

lauralynn710

Love!

PregsMcSnoozalot

I don't care for Calista Flockhart, so that really colors my opinion of the name  

knitsandgiggles

I like it, NMS but I still think it's pretty. Can't think of any other nicknames though.

cakebatter27

Thanks ladies. We're 28 and don't know anyone who watched ally mcbeal. I think Calista Flockhart will only be known as Indiana Jones' wife!

I think if we go with this MY nn for her will be Calla Lily! I do like the suggestions of Callie and Lila. Our good friends just named their baby Callie days ago though so that makes me uneasy. Although we see them maybe 4 or 5 times a year so I don't think it'll matter in the long run.

Nichole8787

I like Calista a lot! Like a whole lot! I wouldn't call her by anything else. It's a beautiful unique name that does not need to be made generic with a nick name. I love it!

abchittam

I like what you did with the nickname. Calla Lilly will be something different, but it's NMS. I must say I am impressed though.

tourqeyes

For me, nicknames are meant to shorten the name (because I am lazy). So for anything where it ends up sounding longer than Calista (calliope) or the two words, I couldn't see myself doing that.

But whatever you guys like I'm down with since it's your little girl.

runrinserepeat

I didn't suggest Calliope as a nn, it was meant as an alternative in case she had reservations about Calista. But I like both.

cakebatter27

Oh I meant I would only call her Calla Lily as a pet name, like you'd say Princess or Sweetie!

Also Calliope is out because I pronounced it Cali-o-pee. ;-)

tourqeyes

I still don't think I'm saying that one right even with kle's broken down pronunciation.

mrscurlygurl

Haha...Calli-o-pee.

Also, did none of you watch Brothers and Sisters. She wasn't just Ally.

emw8910

I don't hate it, I love using unusual names. I really like Callie but can't think think of another NN

Ecomom17

I like it!  I think Calista is pretty.  Also, it's derived from a name in Greek mythology, so it came long before Calista Flockhart.  That's probably where her name came from.  I associate the name more with that.  It's more commonly spelled Callista or Kallista, though.  I like the MN, too.

bewilderingstar

I would change the spelling so it wouldn't be so Flockhart-y

ghostof5letters

cakebatter27 said:

Thanks ladies. We're 28 and don't know anyone who watched ally mcbeal. I think Calista Flockhart will only be known as Indiana Jones' wife!

I think if we go with this MY nn for her will be Calla Lily! I do like the suggestions of Callie and Lila. Our good friends just named their baby Callie days ago though so that makes me uneasy. Although we see them maybe 4 or 5 times a year so I don't think it'll matter in the long run.

Did you just call is old?

Not that I don't agree with your point.

iris427

 I like Calista, although I like Calliope better.  But both are nice, I love Greek names.  Callie is a nice nickname.  It's a bit of a mouthful with Lillian as a middle name, but the MN means something to you, and people don't use MNs much anyway.

TurtleMonsters

I like calista...she'll make it her own name "personality" and who knows how famous CF will be when it matters (I've always liked her though- from the ally mcbeal days- I'm old). I'm not so sure about calla lilly- it's too much a flower for me, though it's interesting. But if you love it, then go for it. Calliope s cool, and related to THAT one, is a name a friend recently used: Penelope.

I have a more common name, a rarely used family name, and a weird , slightly made up name (I'd likely get slack for but I still think it sounds cool), on my boy's list. I call the baby the different names to see how they fit. Ultimately I'm going in with a few choices, anyway, and I'll see if meeting him makes a difference with which I choose.

cakebatter27

ghostof5letters said:

cakebatter27 said:

Thanks ladies. We're 28 and don't know anyone who watched ally mcbeal. I think Calista Flockhart will only be known as Indiana Jones' wife!

I think if we go with this MY nn for her will be Calla Lily! I do like the suggestions of Callie and Lila. Our good friends just named their baby Callie days ago though so that makes me uneasy. Although we see them maybe 4 or 5 times a year so I don't think it'll matter in the long run.

Did you just call is old?

Not that I don't agree with your point.

Hahaha. I just meant it wasn't a show no one our age watched so I doubt anyone younger or around our age watched.

How else is there to spell it? Isn't Calista the right way? We definitely aren't using a "k" .

jensavicci

Sorry cake I'm not thrilled with calista (apparently neither is autocorrect) and I'm not a fan of calliope either (reminds me of cantaloupe). I'm just not a fan of how it sounds.

But! Looks like everyone else disagrees with me so, my opinion is unimportant

cakebatter27

@jensavicci your opinion isn't unimportant! That's why I asked, to get all kinds of responses. I'm not a fan of Calliope just because if I can't pronounce it I can only imagine how my parents and in laws butcher it!

jensavicci

cakebatter27 said:

@jensavicci your opinion isn't unimportant! That's why I asked, to get all kinds of responses. I'm not a fan of Calliope just because if I can't pronounce it I can only imagine how my parents and in laws butcher it!

Yay!! I matter haha yea, I can't exactly pronounce it correctly either.

lks18

There's also Callista Gingrich, Newt Gingrich's wife.

A friend had a girl around two years ago and named her Calista. I think she was looking for a Greek name because her family is Greek. So there are at least 3 in the world. And I'm sure our kids' gen won't know much about Ally McBeal.

Shelleybell

i like it and actually did not think of calista flockhart at all.  FWIW your kids friend will have no idea what Ally McBeal is. 

AllisonLaurenn

I didn't see this, or if it was posted I missed it ... nn idea for Calista is also Lissie (or Lissy). I knew a girl is grade school w that name - not sure if it was a nn or her full name. It's kind of cute also ETA: tag @cakebatter27