Callie
/ˈkæl.i/noun
A feminine given name, often used as a diminutive of names such as Callista, Calliope, Caroline, or Calpurnia.
Did you know?When derived from Callista, Callie ultimately reflects the Greek superlative kallistē, meaning “most beautiful,” a form associated with the mythological epithet Kallisto.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kal-
“A reconstructed root associated with beauty or pleasing qualities, though its exact historical development is debated.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kalós (καλός)
“Beautiful, good, noble, or admirable.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kállistos / kallístē (κάλλιστος / καλλίστη)
“Most beautiful; the superlative form of kalós.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Kallistṓ (Καλλιστώ)
“Callisto, traditionally interpreted as “most beautiful,” the name of a mythological nymph transformed into a bear and associated with the Great Bear constellation.”
Late Antiquity
Greek/Latin
Callista
“A feminine personal name meaning “most beautiful.””
20th Century
English
Callie
“An English given name and nickname form, also used independently.”
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