Given name & surname
Misty
“covered with dew; of the mists”
Misty is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “covered with dew; of the mists.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “covered with dew; of the mists.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
How it developed
In English usage, Misty is a diminutive of Melissa.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1944. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Misty is a diminutive of Melissa. The history of Melissa gives this family its wider story. In Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, Melissa is the benevolent witch who frees Rogero from Alcina. Separately, Melissa has also been used in Ireland as an English form of Maoilíosa; the two contexts should not be collapsed into one origin.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Misty through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 84,891
- 237 boys · 84,654 girls
- Most popular year
- 1977
- 6,333 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #4,140 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,140 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,315 in 1977. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 70,424 as a first name in 2020; a sample rank of No. 50,376 among surnames in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Misty’s family of names
In English usage, Misty is a diminutive of Melissa. Misty has a related form in Misti. In English usage, Misty is a nickname for Melissa.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Misty
- Misty CopelandAmerican ballet dancerborn 1982
- Misty May-TreanorAmerican beach volleyball playerborn 1977
- Misty UphamAmerican actress (1982-2014)
- Misty HymanAmerican swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, former world record-holderborn 1979
- Misty RoweAmerican actressborn 1952
- Misty LeeAmerican magician, voice actress, comedianborn 1976
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Misty, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mindy
“one who is sweet and gentle” · “one who is worthy of admiration”
>99% girls
Mandy
“one who is much loved”
>99% girls
Missy
“resembling a honeybee”
>99% girls
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Keisha
“of the spice tree”
>99% girls
Krissy
“one who is friendly”
>99% girls
Breezy
“an animated and lighthearted woman” · “a lighthearted man”
>99% girls
Randi
“the wolf shield” · “lustful”
1% boys · 99% girls