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Mateo vs Santiago

Which is more popular?
Mateo is more popular than Santiago today: about 11,045 US babies were given the name Mateo in 2025, compared with 7,554 named Santiago.
MateoSantiago
Meaning gift of God Saint James
Origin spanish spanish
Gender Boy Boy
Pronunciation ma-TEH-o san-tee-AH-go
Syllables 3 3
First appeared19041880
Peak year2024 (11,349)2025 (7,554)
In 202511,0457,554
TrendNear its peakNear its peak
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Mateo Santiago
18801900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeMateoSantiago
2020s 62,272 37,145
2010s 50,604 36,449
2000s 10,490 14,613
1990s 2,010 4,283
1980s 370 2,627
1970s 285 2,083
1960s 102 1,464
1950s 116 1,330
1940s 112 1,111
1930s 102 935
1920s 162 1,050
1910s 63 476
1900s 5 123
1890s 0 62
1880s 0 77

What does Mateo mean?

The Spanish form of Matthew, from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' (mattan 'gift' + Yah, a name of God). It reached Spanish through the Greek Matthaios and Latin Matthaeus, the name of the apostle and gospel-writer.

What does Santiago mean?

A contraction of 'Sant Yago' — Saint James. Yago (also Iago) is the old Spanish form of Jacobo/James, from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob). The name honors Santiago the Apostle, patron saint of Spain, whose shrine is at Santiago de Compostela.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mateo or Santiago more popular?

Mateo is more popular than Santiago today: about 11,045 US babies were given the name Mateo in 2025, compared with 7,554 named Santiago.

What is the difference between Mateo and Santiago?

Mateo means gift of God (spanish origin), while Santiago means Saint James (spanish origin).

Which name is older, Mateo or Santiago?

In US records, Mateo first appears in 1904 and Santiago in 1880, so Santiago has the longer recorded history.