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At a Glance: Name: Diego – Origin: Spanish (from Latin/Iberian 'Didacus') – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: dee-AY-goh
Diego is a Spanish boy's name, pronounced dee-AY-goh, tracing back to the Iberian/Latin name Didacus. It's often called the Spanish form of Santiago or James, said to mean 'supplanter' — but that's a mix-up of two separate names; Diego's own roots are simply listed as 'of uncertain origin.' On the SSA charts since 1887, it fits the worldly, timeless, classic mold parents look for in a classic name.
Meaning & Origin of Diego
Origin: Spanish (from Latin/Iberian 'Didacus').
A common claim: Diego is widely believed to be the Spanish form of Santiago/James and so to mean 'supplanter.' Actually: Diego actually derives from the Iberian/Latin name Didacus, of uncertain origin — historically a separate name from Santiago/James, despite the common belief that they're the same.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Diego
Phonetic: dee-AY-goh IPA: /diˈeɪgoʊ/
Popularity of Diego
Diego peaked at #56 in 2006, when 8,403 boys were given the name, and has since eased to #145 in 2024 with 2,506 boys named Diego.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1887–2024.
Make Diego Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Diego, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Diego mean?
Diego is widely believed to be the Spanish form of Santiago/James and so to mean ‘supplanter.’ Diego actually derives from the Iberian/Latin name Didacus, of uncertain origin — historically a separate name from Santiago/James, despite the common belief that they’re the same.
How do you pronounce Diego?
Diego is pronounced dee-AY-goh (IPA: /diˈeɪgoʊ/).
Is Diego a popular name right now?
Diego peaked at #56 in 2006 and is ranked #145 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1887–2024.)
📊 How popular is Diego? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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