Misty: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,140

among girls · ↓45 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Misty · -3% vs 2024

How common

1 in 45,922

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1977

6,333 babies

All-time total

84,891

#423 all-time among girls

First recorded

1944

in Social Security records

Misty popularity over time

84,891 babies have been named Misty since 1944, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	40	–	40	4	–	#2,732
1950s	276	–	276	28	+590%	#1,222
1960s	5,294	–	5,294	529	+1818%	#295
1970s	42,375	137	42,512	4,251	+703%	#40
1980s	29,114	100	29,214	2,921	-31%	#49
1990s	5,419	–	5,419	542	-81%	#279
2000s	1,428	–	1,428	143	-74%	#906
2010s	520	–	520	52	-64%	#2,409
2020s (to 2025)	188	–	188	31	-40%	#3,890

Where Misty is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 girls (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 girls	Implied rank
2026	35	0.02	outside top 500
2027	34	0.02	outside top 500
2028	34	0.02	outside top 500
2029	34	0.02	outside top 500
2030	34	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Misty

Misty is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,140 in 2025 with 35 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1944, 84,891 American babies have been named Misty. Its peak came in 1977, when 6,333 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Misty stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Misty?

The median living Misty is about 46 years old; half are between 42 and 50. An estimated 82 thousand people named Misty are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Misty year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	35	#4,140	–	–
2024	36	#4,095	–	–
2023	25	#5,215	–	–
2022	23	#5,582	–	–
2021	32	#4,387	–	–
2020	37	#3,890	–	–
2019	35	#4,131	–	–
2018	35	#4,124	–	–
2017	40	#3,822	–	–
2016	43	#3,641	–	–
2015	52	#3,202	–	–
2014	64	#2,730	–	–
2013	40	#3,829	–	–
2012	66	#2,701	–	–
2011	77	#2,409	–	–
2010	68	#2,666	–	–
2009	103	#2,012	–	–
2008	85	#2,311	–	–
2007	93	#2,159	–	–
2006	111	#1,842	–	–
2005	136	#1,522	–	–
2004	129	#1,543	–	–
2003	164	#1,278	–	–
2002	166	#1,217	–	–
2001	199	#1,071	–	–
2000	242	#906	–	–
1995	412	#562	–	–
1990	996	#279	–	–
1985	2,413	#121	9	#4,569
1980	5,541	#49	20	#2,500
1975	5,552	#47	16	#2,605
1970	1,151	#266	–	–
1965	492	#422	–	–
1960	212	#701	–	–
1955	33	#1,869	–	–
1950	14	#2,862	–	–
1945	5	#5,036	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Misty

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Misty Stone American pornographic film actress b. 1986 · Contemporary
2 Misty Upham Native American actress (Blackfeet Nation) (1982-2014) Contemporary
3 Misty May-Treanor American beach volleyball player (born 1977) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Misty, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Misty?

The median living Misty is about 46 years old. Half of all living Mistys are between 42 and 50 years old.

How many people named Misty are alive today?

An estimated 82 thousand people named Misty are alive in the United States, based on 84,891 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Misty mean?

Misty is a feminine given name of English origin.

How popular is the name Misty in 2025?

Misty ranked #4,140 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 35 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Misty?

84,891 babies have been named Misty in the United States since 1944, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Misty most popular?

Misty peaked in 1977, when 6,333 newborns received the name.

Is Misty a boy or girl name?

Misty is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Misty rising or falling?

Misty is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Misty become more popular?

Misty looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 34 girls named Misty in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Misty?

Well-known people named Misty include Misty Stone (pornographic actor), Misty Upham (actor), Misty May-Treanor (volleyball player).

Names like Misty

Names that sound and feel close to Misty: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Misty with similar names → More names starting with M →