Misty as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Misty

What is the meaning of the name Misty ?

The baby name Misty is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced MIS-tee (IPA: /ˈmɪsti/).

Misty is English in Origin.

Misty is an English given name drawn from the common noun, meaning “covered in mist” or “hazy,” evoking dew, fog, and a soft, dreamlike atmosphere. The word stems from Old English mist, with Germanic roots, and the diminutive -y lends a familiar, affectionate tone. Spelling variants include Misti, Mistie, Mysti, Mystie, and Mysty; related nicknames may overlap with Missy, though they are etymologically distinct.

As a modern nature name, Misty rose in the United States during the 1960s, boosted by the popular jazz standard “Misty” (Erroll Garner, 1954; Johnny Mathis hit, 1959) and further visibility from the 1971 film Play Misty for Me. It reached the American Top 100 in the 1970s before fading in the 1990s, yet remains recognizable through pop culture, including the Pokémon character Misty. Today it suggests a breezy, romantic feel with outdoorsy, pastoral undertones.