Rising since 1987, #26 for boys today.
Popularity of Santiago since 1880
Babies named Santiago per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 77 |
| 1890s | 62 |
| 1900s | 123 |
| 1910s | 476 |
| 1920s | 1,050 |
| 1930s | 935 |
| 1940s | 1,111 |
| 1950s | 1,330 |
| 1960s | 1,464 |
| 1970s | 2,083 |
| 1980s | 2,627 |
| 1990s | 4,283 |
| 2000s | 14,613 |
| 2010s | 36,449 |
| 2020s | 37,145 |
Meaning & origin
Packed inside Santiago is a small history of Spain: a saint, a pilgrimage, and the old form of James fused into a single name. It has been in American records since 1880, carried for generations by Hispanic families, and its climb since 1987 has been long and unbroken, 2025 was its highest year yet, at 26th nationally, with about one in every 226 newborn boys receiving it.
Its geography is the most sharply regional in this stretch of the charts: Nevada, California, and Arizona lead, a Southwestern concentration that reflects the name's deep roots in Mexican-American and broader Latino communities even as it wins crossover parents drawn to its rolling four syllables. The nickname Santi gives it an easy everyday register, and it slots naturally beside Mateo, Emiliano, and Luciano, the confident, fully Spanish names now thriving on the national list.
Santiago is a fusion of Santo ('saint') and Yago, the old Spanish form of James, itself from Latin Iacobus and ultimately the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob), a name whose original meaning is debated, traditionally tied in Genesis to 'heel' and 'supplanter.' The saint in question is James the Great, patron of Spain, whose shrine at Santiago de Compostela made the name a destination: the Camino pilgrimage has drawn walkers for a thousand years, and cities from Chile to Cuba to the Dominican Republic carry the name. Diego is often said to have split off from Santiago by re-division (San Diego), though scholars debate that account. In American records since 1880, Santiago was long concentrated in Hispanic communities; it has risen broadly since 1987 and set its all-time high in 2025.
Read more: Santiago on Wikipedia
Where Santiago is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Santiago” around the world
Where Santiago lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
125
babies in 2024
Ireland
6
babies in 2025
Quebec
20
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Santi, Tiago, Chago
Famous people named Santiago
- Santiago Ramón y Cajal · Spanish neuroscientist and Nobel laureate, father of modern neuroscience
- Santiago Calatrava · Spanish architect and engineer known for sculptural bridges and stations
Sibling names for Santiago
Names that share Santiago's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Camila, Valentina, Lucia, Isabela, Elena, Blanca, Itzel, Mercedes, Nayeli, Ximena, Abril, Aitana, Alejandra, Alica, Anahi, Arely, Beatriz, Belen, Cataleya, Cielo, Eloisa, Estefania, Estefany, Flor, Francisca, Havana, Ines, Itzayana, Jimena, Jovanna, Lorena, Lucero, Lupita, Manuela, Mariana, Mariela, Monserrat, Montserrat, Paloma, Raquel, Reyna, Romina, Sarahi, Valencia, Violeta, Xiomara, Agustina, Aleida, Alejandrina, Aleyda, Anayeli, Andreina, Aranza, Aylen, Brianda, Citlaly, Delfina, Deyanira, Divina, Estefani, Gema, Jacinta, Lisandra, Malena, Marbella, Marita, Matilde, Mayte, Monserrath, Nallely, Nena, Nohemi, Samanta, Samaria, Serafina, Sonora, Tijuana, Verenice, Xitlaly, Yamilet, Yaneli, Yanet, Yanira, Yaretzy, Zamora, Abelina, Analaura, Anapaula, Aracelia, Araseli, Arelys, Azusena, Constanza, Cristela, Danitza, Eneida, Erendira, Esmerelda, Estephania, Estrellita, Gimena, Grabiela, Irlanda, Itzia, Izamar, Jatziry, Jezabel, Lavanda, Ligia, Liset, Mariafernanda, Marianela, Marifer, Mariposa, Marisella, Mercades, Mercede, Mery, Miamor, Monserat, Montoya, Monzerrat, Quetzaly, Senora, Sheccid, Siomara, Sulma, Triana, Xaviera, Yamila, Yareni, Yari, Yaritzi, Yatzil, Yatziry, Yeimy, Yetzali, Zuleyma, Agueda, Alegria, Alesana, Alitzel, Arasely, Atalaya, Athziry, Ayelen, Brizeida, Carrera, Esperanza, Graciana, Ignacia, Itzamara, Itzell, Iveth, Jaretzi, Ketzaly, Macarena, Marieli, Martiza, Mauricia, Mersades, Molina, Monse, Moraima, Morelia, Nahiara, Nazaret, Nohelia, Omayra, Quintana, Safira, Santia, Sevilla, Vitoria, Yarelli, Yatzari, Yoali, Yunuen, Yuritzi, Ziomara, Amariz, Lavida, Marijose, Yarexi, Alegandra, Amaranta, Anacaren, Anairis, Aracelie, Aracelly, Betzayda, Casilda, Cayetana, Fiorela, Itxel, Iveliz, Jisela, Korayma, Lavilla, Lety, Luzma, Mariabelen, Marsela, Marsella, Masina, Mercedies, Monseratt, Montzerrat, Obdulia, Querida, Quetzally, Ramira, Santoria, Satina, Satoya, Seba, Shantana, Sinaya, Solena, Solita, Solyana, Xcaret, Ximenna, Xitlally, Yarethzi, Yaretsi, Yarimar, Yobana, Yoltzin, Ysabela, Yurani, Yuridiana, Zelaya
Brothers: Mateo, Emiliano, Luciano, Andres, Leonardo, Thiago, Alejandro, Alfredo, Cruz, Diego, Matias, Maximiliano, Rodrigo, Rogelio, Vicente, Alfonso, Alonso, Alonzo, Alphonso, Alvaro, Anibal, Benito, Bernabe, Cesar, Cordero, Domingo, Eliseo, Eloy, Emilio, Esteban, Estevan, Ezequiel, Felipe, Florentino, Gonzalo, Hernan, Hilario, Ismael, Jairo, Javier, Jaziel, Joaquin, Lazaro, Marco, Marquez, Mauricio, Moises, Pablo, Reyes, Santana, Tadeo, Teodoro, Trinidad, Ulises, Benicio, Cecilio, Dagoberto, Epifanio, Esai, Esequiel, Fransisco, Itzae, Jeronimo, Juaquin, Karmelo, Lisandro, Migel, Osiel, Pascual, Richardo, Romero, Timoteo, Yovani, Alegandro, Alejo, Ambrosio, Amelio, Andrez, Aristeo, Calixto, Carlitos, Cayetano, Chavez, Cisco, Cristoval, Cruzito, Diago, Dionisio, Eliu, Emillio, Enrigue, Estuardo, Fransico, Froylan, Giancarlos, Gillermo, Hernando, Inocencio, Javi, Joshue, Maximilliano, Melchor, Nasario, Octaviano, Oracio, Oseas, Perez, Ramir, Ruperto, Santiel, Tres, Yoshua, Yovanni, Abelino, Alanzo, Canelo, Deigo, Erique, Erubiel, Eulises, Facundo, Feliciano, Fernandez, Filiberto, Gustabo, Jabier, Jaciel, Jobany, Jovanie, Juvencio, Messi, Miqueas, Oliverio, Romualdo, Torres, Yago, Inigo, Jhair, Adalid, Albeiro, Alcario, Anyelo, Avelardo, Castulo, Cordera, Cristofher, Dago, Damaso, Edinson, Elisio, Emilliano, Estiben, Indalecio, Isandro, Jesua, Lautaro, Lucciano, Malaquias, Rangel, Romaldo, Serapio, Sosa, Torrez, Trevino, Victorhugo, Xiomar
Names like Santiago
Names whose popularity has moved with Santiago's over the last 50 years.
