Santiago

Saint James — a boy name of Spanish origin

GenderBoy
OriginSpanish
MeaningSaint James
Pronunciationsan-tee-AH-goh

Popularity of Santiago in the United States

#26Rank in 2025
7,554Births in 2025
#26 in 2025Peak Popularity
↑ Rising10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Santiago

Santiago is the Spanish form of "Saint James," derived from the Latin "Sanctus Iacobus." The name is inseparable from the Camino de Santiago, the historic pilgrimage route across Spain leading to the shrine of Saint James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela. It is also the name of the capital cities of Chile and Cuba, reflecting the deep influence of Spanish colonization across the Americas. Santiago has become one of the most popular boy names among Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families alike, admired for its rhythmic sound and rich religious and cultural heritage.

Santiago Around the World

Santiago is used in 3 languages worldwide, with 44+ international variants.

Languages
SpanishPortugueseGalician
Details

TypeMale given name

International Variants
YakupTurkish
DídacCatalan
YakovRussian
JamesEnglish
JaakkoFinnish
JacquesFrench
JokūbasLithuanian
JaumeCatalan
JakubPolish
Séamus
JaimeSpanish
DiegoItalian
Iacopo
IagoItalian
YakubArabic
Tiago
JacopoItalian
DiogoPortuguese
JimEnglish
JacobusLatin
JakobGerman
GiacomoItalian
JacóPortuguese
JaccoDutch
Jaco
Jacobo
SeamusIrish
Thiago
SantiSpanish
Jayme
Jakez
Jämes
DidacusLatin
YagoSpanish
YacobDutch
ChaimeAragonese
JacobFinnish
Iacobus
JiminyEnglish
YaacovHebrew
Jaymes
XacobeGalician
DydakPolish
XácomeGalician

Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.

Nicknames for Santiago

SantiYago

Famous People Named Santiago

  • Santiago Bernabéu — former Real Madrid president and stadium namesake
  • Santiago Calatrava — Spanish architect and engineer
  • Santiago Ramón y Cajal — Spanish Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist

Similar Names to Santiago

If you like Santiago, you might also consider these names with a similar feel.

Also consider:Rafael

Sibling Name Ideas for Santiago

Looking for names that pair well with Santiago? Here are some sibling name suggestions that share a similar style and feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Santiago mean?

Santiago is a boy name of Spanish origin meaning "Saint James." Santiago is the Spanish form of "Saint James," derived from the Latin "Sanctus Iacobus." The name is inseparable from the Camino de Santiago, the historic pilgrimage route across Spain leading to the shrine of Saint James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela.

How do you pronounce Santiago?

Santiago is pronounced san-tee-AH-goh. Common variations include Diego, Iago, Jaime.

Is Santiago a boy name?

Yes, Santiago is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Santi, Yago.

Need More Name Ideas?

Like Santiago? Our AI Name Generator suggests personalized baby names based on your preferences, surname, and cultural background.

Try Baby Name Generator