StorkWorldstorkworld com

Santiago vs Diego

Which is more popular?
Santiago is more popular than Diego today: about 7,554 US babies were given the name Santiago in 2025, compared with 2,351 named Diego.
SantiagoDiego
Meaning Saint James uncertain; linked to James/Didacus
Origin spanish spanish
Gender Boy Boy
Pronunciation san-tee-AH-go dee-EH-go
Syllables 3 2
First appeared18801887
Peak year2025 (7,554)2006 (8,403)
In 20257,5542,351
TrendNear its peakDeclining
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Santiago Diego
18801900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeSantiagoDiego
2020s 37,145 16,414
2010s 36,449 33,386
2000s 14,613 56,041
1990s 4,283 13,459
1980s 2,627 3,902
1970s 2,083 1,244
1960s 1,464 633
1950s 1,330 350
1940s 1,111 224
1930s 935 188
1920s 1,050 197
1910s 476 112
1900s 123 5
1890s 62 0
1880s 77 5

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.

What does Diego mean?

A Spanish name of genuinely disputed origin. Traditionally explained as a short form of Santiago (Sant-Yago, 'Saint James', from Hebrew Jacob), but many scholars now derive it instead from the Latin Didacus — itself possibly from the Greek didache 'teaching'. The two theories remain unresolved, so any single 'meaning' should be treated with caution.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santiago or Diego more popular?

Santiago is more popular than Diego today: about 7,554 US babies were given the name Santiago in 2025, compared with 2,351 named Diego.

What is the difference between Santiago and Diego?

Santiago means Saint James (spanish origin), while Diego means uncertain; linked to James/Didacus (spanish origin).

Which name is older, Santiago or Diego?

In US records, Santiago first appears in 1880 and Diego in 1887, so Santiago has the longer recorded history.