Callie
Callie was the 175th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,754 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 124th; the most babies were born in 2014 (1,763). Over the last ten years it has moved up 20 places. More babies were named Callie in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Caroline · English, Germanic
Say it KAL-ee /ˈkæli/
- Rank in 2025
- #175 girls, down 10 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,754girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20141,763 babies
- Total since 1880
- 70,827babies recorded
What does the name Callie mean?
Callie began as a 19th-century pet form of Caroline, according to Wiktionary, and Wikipedia adds that it is used as a form of Carrie. Caroline is the French feminine of Carolus (Charles), from a Germanic word for 'man'. Some families also treat it as a short form of Calliope, a separate Greek name. It is now often given on its own.
Caroline (French, “feminine of Charles”)
How sure is this? Probable. Usually a pet form of Caroline; other associations (Greek 'beautiful') are separate.
Related names: Kallie, Caroline, Carrie, Calliope, Cali.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Callie', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Callie', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Charles', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Callie popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 637 since 1881.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #175 | 1,754 |
| 2020 | #165 | 1,726 |
| 2010 | #239 | 1,319 |
| 2000 | #321 | 990 |
| 1990 | #295 | 941 |
| 1980 | #686 | 252 |
| 1970 | #1,060 | 115 |
| 1960 | #968 | 122 |
| 1950 | #765 | 128 |
| 1940 | #518 | 175 |
| 1930 | #444 | 231 |
| 1920 | #345 | 362 |
| 1910 | #247 | 244 |
| 1900 | #175 | 310 |
| 1890 | #153 | 230 |
| 1880 | #124 | 131 |
How popular is Callie, counting every spelling?
Callie is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #155 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #175 for Callie on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,199 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callie | 1,754 | #175 | 8,366 |
| Kallie | 279 | #934 | 1,568 |
| Kalli | 56 | #2,974 | 262 |
| Calli | 25 | #5,124 | 175 |
| Kalie | 21 | #5,818 | 118 |
| Calie | 9 | #10,253 | 91 |
| Calee | — | — | 60 |
| Callee | 7 | #12,159 | 56 |
| Kalee | 8 | #11,391 | 51 |
| Kally | 5 | #16,054 | 42 |
| Kallee | 6 | #14,018 | 42 |
| Calea | 13 | #7,969 | 40 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Callie?
1,754 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Callie (0.49 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Callie born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 5 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Callie.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Callie?
About 55,100 people born in the US named Callie are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 9 and 32. That makes Callie mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Callie by state
How common Callie was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (2.9×), Maine (2.8×), West Virginia (2.5×), North Dakota (2.4×), Connecticut (2.2×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in California, New Mexico, Nevada.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Callie: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Callie, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Callie · Sibling names for Callie
Callie is also a nickname for Caroline and Calliope.
Questions about the name Callie
What does Callie mean?
Callie means “pet form of Caroline” (English, Germanic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Callie?
Callie was the 175th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,754 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 124th; the most babies were born in 2014 (1,763). Over the last ten years it has moved up 20 places. More babies were named Callie in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Callie a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Callie in the US.
Where is Callie most popular?
In 2021–2025, Callie was most common in Rhode Island (3.04 per 1,000 girls), followed by Maine and West Virginia.