Cali

Cali, like Callie, has uncertain origins but is often thought to have developed as a nickname for Calista. Calista in turn has two possible origins, one Greek and one Latin. The Greek word “kallista” means ‘fairest, most beautiful’. Another source suggests that Calista comes from the Latin male name Calixtus – from the Latin word “calix” meaning ‘cup’ (specifically the cup used for the wine during the Christian sacrament). The Greek “kallista” is most likely associated with the beautiful virginal nymph Callisto who followed Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and daughter of the king of gods Zeus. Zeus became enraptured with the beautiful Callisto and disguised himself to trick her into his embrace, and she bore him a son Arcas. Artemis was so angered by her father’s indiscretion that she shot Callisto with her silver arrow to avenge her mother Hera. Zeus took pity on the nymph and his son, so he turned them into bears and set them in the sky as stars (known as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor which translates to Larger Bear and Smaller Bear in Latin). Calista has never been a particularly popular name in English-speaking countries; it’s considered exotic and bohemian. Callie, however, has been popular since the 19th century. Cali is an even shorter version that appears to be distinct to the United States.