How to say it
san · tee · AH · go
ˌsæn.tiˈɑ.ɡoʊ
Masculine
Santiago
Saint James
What it means
Spanish contraction of 'Sant Iago,' meaning Saint James. The same Hebrew root behind Jacob, James, Diego, and Giacomo.
Saint James the Apostle's supposed burial place is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The medieval Camino de Santiago became one of the three great Christian pilgrimages alongside Rome and Jerusalem, drawing walkers across Europe for a thousand years. The name moved from saint and pilgrimage destination to given name across Spanish-speaking countries, where it's been a top-five boys' name in many Latin American countries for decades. US adoption surged in the 2010s, and Santiago entered the US top thirty for boys by 2020. Common short forms: Santi, Tiago, Yago.
How to spell Santiago
The standard spelling is Santiago. Common variants include Sant'Iago, Diego, James, Jacob, but Santiago is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #26 in 2025, currently #26 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
sahn-tee-AH-go, four syllables, stress on the third. The G is hard.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Santiago (The Old Man and the Sea) Hemingway's fisherman protagonist
- Santiago de Compostela Spanish pilgrimage city, named for Saint James
Spelling variants
- Sant'Iago
- Diego
- James
- Jacob
Names with the same feeling
See Santiago from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Santiago mean?
- Spanish contraction of 'Sant Iago,' meaning Saint James. The same Hebrew root behind Jacob, James, Diego, and Giacomo.
- What does Santiago mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Santiago means "Saint James." Saint James the Apostle's supposed burial place is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The medieval Camino de Santiago became one of the three great Christian pilgrimages alongside Rome and Jerusalem, drawing walkers across Europe for a thousand years. The name moved from saint and pilgrimage destination to given name across Spanish-speaking countries, where it's been a top-five boys' name in many Latin American countries for decades. US adoption surged in the 2010s, and Santiago entered the US top thirty for boys by 2020. Common short forms: Santi, Tiago, Yago.
- How do you pronounce Santiago?
- Santiago is pronounced ˌsæn.tiˈɑ.ɡoʊ. Say it as san-tee-AH-go, with the stress on the "ah" syllable.
- How do you spell Santiago?
- The standard spelling is Santiago. Common spelling variants include Sant'Iago, Diego, James, Jacob.
- Is Santiago a boy or girl name?
- Santiago is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Santiago?
- Santiago ranked #26 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.