Santiago
Santiago is a boys' name of Spanish origin meaning “Saint James.” It ranked #26 in the United States in 2025. Santiago means 'Saint James' and is the patron saint of Spain.
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how do you pronounce Santiago?
sahn-tee-AH-goh
where does the name Santiago come from?
A contraction of Sant Iago, meaning Saint James, where Iago is the Spanish form descended from the Latin Iacobus. Centuries of running the two words together produced a single name, and the same process gives the Portuguese São Tiago and the Spanish surname Diego.
The Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) is one of the world's most famous pilgrimage routes, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The name resonates deeply across the Spanish-speaking world.
how popular is this name?
Santiago has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 140 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 6. It peaked at #26 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #26 |
| 2024 | #29 |
| 2023 | #45 |
| 2022 | #49 |
| 2021 | #63 |
| 2020 | #71 |
| 2019 | #70 |
| 2018 | #82 |
| 2017 | #93 |
| 2016 | #106 |
| 2010 | #134 |
| 2000 | #358 |
| 1990 | #564 |
| 1980 | #538 |
| 1970 | #586 |
| 1960 | #620 |
| 1950 | #592 |
| 1940 | #729 |
| 1930 | #556 |
| 1920 | #724 |
| 1910 | #537 |
| 1900 | #743 |
| 1890 | #667 |
| 1880 | #526 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Santiago fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Santiago
The shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela became one of medieval Europe's three great pilgrimage destinations alongside Rome and Jerusalem, and the Camino is still walked. The name spread across the Spanish-speaking world with the saint's cult, naming the capital of Chile among many other cities, and it now ranks among the leading boys' names in Latin America.
who are famous people named Santiago?
- Santiago Calatrava (Spanish architect)
- Santiago (protagonist of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist)
- Santiago Solari (Argentine footballer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Santiago?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Santiago?
what names go well with Santiago?
Sibling names that share Santiago's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Santiago
What does the name Santiago mean?
Santiago means “Saint James”.
What is the origin of the name Santiago?
Santiago comes from the Spanish naming tradition. Related forms include Diego, Tiago and Jago.
How popular is the name Santiago?
Santiago ranked #26 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #26, and it has spent 140 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Santiago a boy or girl name?
Santiago is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Santiago?
Santiago is pronounced sahn-tee-AH-goh, with 4 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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