How to say it
tee · AH · go
tiˈɑ.ɡoʊ
Masculine
Thiago
Supplanter
What it means
Brazilian Portuguese form of James/Santiago. The Hebrew root is Ya'akov, the same source as Jacob, James, Diego, and Giacomo.
Thiago dropped the 'San' from 'Sant Iago' (Saint James) and kept just 'Tiago,' then added an H in modern Brazilian Portuguese orthography. The Spanish form is Tiago (no H). The name is dominant in Brazil, consistently a top-five boys' name there, and has been growing steadily in US use through Brazilian, Portuguese-speaking, and broader Latino communities. Currently US top hundred for boys and climbing. Common short forms: Ti, Thi.
How to spell Thiago
The standard spelling is Thiago. Common variants include Tiago, Iago, Santiago, Diego, but Thiago is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #50 in 2025, currently #50 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
tee-AH-go, three syllables, stress on the middle. The T is soft, almost like a soft D. Not THY-ah-go.
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.
- Thiago Silva Brazilian footballer regarded as one of the leading centre-backs of his generation
- Thiago Alcantara Spanish footballer and UEFA Champions League winner
Spelling variants
- Tiago
- Iago
- Santiago
- Diego
Names with the same feeling
See Thiago from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Thiago mean?
- Brazilian Portuguese form of James/Santiago. The Hebrew root is Ya'akov, the same source as Jacob, James, Diego, and Giacomo.
- What does Thiago mean in Portuguese?
- In Portuguese, Thiago means "Supplanter." Thiago dropped the 'San' from 'Sant Iago' (Saint James) and kept just 'Tiago,' then added an H in modern Brazilian Portuguese orthography. The Spanish form is Tiago (no H). The name is dominant in Brazil, consistently a top-five boys' name there, and has been growing steadily in US use through Brazilian, Portuguese-speaking, and broader Latino communities. Currently US top hundred for boys and climbing. Common short forms: Ti, Thi.
- How do you pronounce Thiago?
- Thiago is pronounced tiˈɑ.ɡoʊ. Say it as tee-AH-go, with the stress on the "ah" syllable.
- How do you spell Thiago?
- The standard spelling is Thiago. Common spelling variants include Tiago, Iago, Santiago, Diego.
- Is Thiago a boy or girl name?
- Thiago is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Thiago?
- Thiago ranked #50 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.