A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Santo since 1907
Babies named Santo per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Santo's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 21 |
| 1910s | 612 |
| 1920s | 953 |
| 1930s | 642 |
| 1940s | 416 |
| 1950s | 396 |
| 1960s | 434 |
| 1970s | 356 |
| 1980s | 245 |
| 1990s | 234 |
| 2000s | 225 |
| 2010s | 154 |
| 2020s | 188 |
Meaning & origin
Santo is a name with deep religious roots, directly translating to 'saint' or 'holy' from Latin. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1907 and reached its peak popularity in 1915, during a period when traditional saint names were widely favored. After a long decline, the name has been steadily rising again since 2014, reflecting a broader revival of vintage names. In 2025, it ranked 3,583rd, with about 1 in 55,099 babies receiving the name. Santo is most popular in California, where a significant Italian and Spanish heritage may influence its use. While never extremely common in the U.S., it remains a familiar choice within Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese communities, carrying a strong cultural and spiritual significance.
Santo derives directly from the Latin word 'sanctus', meaning 'holy' or 'consecrated'. It is a common given name in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures, often bestowed in honor of a saint or used as a masculine form of Santa. The name has been used since early Christianity and remains popular in Catholic regions.
Where Santo is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Santo” around the world
Where Santo lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: San, Santi, Santito
Sibling names for Santo
Names that share Santo's style, for a brother or sister.
