Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Misty
GirlEnglish· “covered in mist”
- Meaning
- covered in mist
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- MIHS-tee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,140
- US babies 2025
- 35
- Best rank
- #40 (1977)
- Peak year
- 1977
Meaning and origin of Misty
Misty is an English name that means “covered in mist”.
Misty is an English word name meaning covered in mist, from Old English mist. It came into use as a given name in the mid-twentieth century, the same era that produced the jazz standard Misty by Erroll Garner, and its appeal rests on the soft, dreamy sound of the word itself. The pronunciation is MIHS-tee. Today it feels firmly tied to that period, which some parents see as retro charm rather than a drawback. Similar weather and nature names include Rain, Skye and Dawn. As a two-syllable word it needs no nickname, and a traditional middle name gives it an anchor.
Popularity over time
Misty first appears in US Social Security records in 1944. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 41 different years, starting in 1960. Its best national rank was #40 in 1977, the same year it reached its highest count of 6,315 babies. In 2025, 35 babies were named Misty, and it ranked #4,140 nationally. That is 33% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,862 in 1950, #49 in 1980, #906 in 2000, #2,666 in 2010, and #4,140 in 2025. Of the 84,654 US girls named Misty since records began, 50% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 29,114 babies. Since 2010, 708 more have been named Misty.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kristy, Carrie, Mandy, Jenny, and Tabitha.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Misty is usually pronounced MIHS-tee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-ty”.
Middle names for Misty
A few middle names that flow with Misty: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Misty
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Lists that include Misty
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Misty mean?
Misty is an English name that means “covered in mist”.
What is the origin of the name Misty?
Misty has English roots. Misty is an English word name meaning covered in mist, from Old English mist.
Is Misty a popular name?
Not especially. Misty ranked #4,140 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Misty a boy or girl name?
Misty is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Misty?
Misty is usually pronounced MIHS-tee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings