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Help[Facts] Calista/Callista Spelling
I like the name Callista, and have been comparing the two spellings (one L versus two Ls).
According to BtN, Calista is the dominant spelling with Callista as an alternate. I wonder if this is based on the popularity, as the one L spelling was in the Top 1000 for a few years and the two L spelling never was.
However, the name seems to be derived from either Callistus or Kallisto, both of which have two Ls.
So the question is- why would one-L Calista be the dominant/preferred spelling if both of the names it could be derived from have two Ls?
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the two spellings. Thanks!
According to BtN, Calista is the dominant spelling with Callista as an alternate. I wonder if this is based on the popularity, as the one L spelling was in the Top 1000 for a few years and the two L spelling never was.
However, the name seems to be derived from either Callistus or Kallisto, both of which have two Ls.
So the question is- why would one-L Calista be the dominant/preferred spelling if both of the names it could be derived from have two Ls?
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the two spellings. Thanks!
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Replies
Thank you, this makes sense.
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The single L spelling is at least late-Latin / medieval in origin, if not older - note the masculine Calixtus / Calistus. The original Greek feminine name is Callisto, Callista is a Latin feminine derivative a masculine (probably family) name, derived from the Greek superlative κάλλιστος kállistos (most good/beautiful/noble). The root is κᾱλός (kālós), the substantive derivative form κᾰ́λλος (kállos) is probably a back-formation from the superlative. The reduction of the geminated (twinned) lambda to a single letter is possibly due to a re-analysis of related names as compounds of κᾱλός (kālós) "beautiful/good" rather than dithematic names in which two independent meanings are paired, e.g. Κᾰλλῐκλῆς (Kalliklês) "beauty/nobility + fame"; however the reduction of Callistus/Callista and Callisto to Calistus/Calista and Calisto can also be blamed on a limited understanding of classical Greek grammar by the Latin-speakers using these names — there is an apparent understanding that these names are derived from Greek Kalos, without an understanding that the lambda/l would be geminated (the gemination may not be have been any more apparent in spoken Latin than it is in English).
This message was edited 1/24/2020, 5:29 PM
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We see the same one-L/two-L inconsistency in words like calisthenics & calligraphy.
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Most likely, it was introduced to American society through a celebrity or prominent fictional character. Names that are adopted simply as namesakes are rarely checked for historical precedence.
This message was edited 1/20/2020, 7:38 PM
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Thank you, this makes sense. I guess popular culture does not care about the etymology as much as some of us might ;)
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