Kista is of Swedish origin, meaning 'kiss'. It's a unisex name but is more commonly used for girls. The name gained some popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, possibly due to its simplicity and unique sound.
The name Kista seems to have been popular among parents during the late 60s to early 80s, with a noticeable peak in popularity between 1977 and 1980 when the number of babies named Kista ranged from 8 to 12 per year. However, it appears that this name's popularity declined after the early 80s as there were only two instances of the name being given out in 1984 and 1990 respectively. Overall, over a span of nearly two decades, the name Kista was chosen for a total of 79 newborn girls.