Misty

Once popular, gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysDeclining Also a pet name
#4084 1128in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from English, reasonably popular in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Misty is a girl's and boy's baby name of English origin, evoking the atmospheric word for light fog or haze, suggesting mystery and dreaminess. It emerged as a given name in mid-20th century America, popularized by the 1954 jazz standard "Misty" composed by Erroll Garner.

Misty peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s, embodying a natural, free-spirited vibe of that era. It also gained recognition as the name of the iconic Gym Leader in the Pokémon franchise, giving it an unexpected generational reach.

Compare Misty with another name

Popularity Over Time

Misty was #1543 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4084, but its charm endures.

02k3k5k6k1960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Misty
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s153
2010s520
2000s1,427
1990s5,419
1980s29,115
1970s42,375
1960s5,294
1950s276
1940s40

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(80 years, 19442024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Misty
YearBirthsRank
202436#4084
202325#5212
202223#5579
202132#4387
202037#3888
201935#4128
201835#4122
201740#3819
201643#3641
201552#3200
201464#2729
201340#3829
201266#2700
201177#2409
201068#2666
2009103#2012
200885#2311
200792#2171
2006111#1842
2005136#1522

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Misty as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Misty has also been given to 237 boys in the U.S. since 1971.

Unranked
Current rank
237
Total births
1979
Peak year
Compare Misty as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Misty be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Misty is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #4084. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Misty has two lives

Misty, the baby name
#4084girls
84,619 babies
Currently viewing
Misty, the pet name
#277pet name
409 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19442024) · Methodology