Santiago - Names
Meaning of the name Santiago
Gender:
Male
Meaning:
Saint James (from Spanish: santo ‘saint’ + Yago ‘James’)
History & etymology:
Santiago is a name of Spanish origin and means ‘Saint James’, from a combination of santo ‘saint’ and ‘Yago’ or ‘Iago’, Old Spanish equivalent of James. The name Santiago is most popular in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America.
Popularity of the name can be attributed to the patron saint of Spain, Santiago, also known as James the Greater or Apostle Jacob. He was Jesus’s disciple who preached in the Holy Land and Spain. Santiago was martyred and beheaded in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa. After Santigo’s death, his disciples carried the relics to the place of burial, named Santiago de Compostela in his honour. Santiago de Compostela is regarded the most popular pilgrimage destination in Europe.
Santiago’s feast day is celebrated on 25th July.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Related names: James, Jacob
Nicknames: Sandi (English), Santi
Diminutives: Tiago, Thiago, Diego, Diogo.
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Spain
25th July: Santiago
USA
25th July: Santiago
Santiago’s equivalents:
Austria
25th July: Jakob
Croatia
25th July: Jakov apostol
Czech Republic
25th July: Jakub
Estonia
25th July: Jaagup, Jaako, Jakob
Finland
25th July: Jaakko, Jaakob, Jaakoppi
Hungary
25th July: Jakab
Italy
25th July: S. Giacomo apostolo
Poland
25th July: Jakub
Sweden
25th July: Jakob
Famous people named Santiago:
Santiago Arias (1992-) - Colombian football player
Santiago Botero (1972-) - Colombian cyclist
Santigo Cabrera (1978-) - Venezuelan-Chilean actor
Santiago Calatrava (1951-) - Spanish architect
Santiago Casilla (1980-) - Dominican baseball player
Santiago de Murcia (1673 - 1739) - Spanish guitarist and composer
Santiago Gonzalez (1818 - 1887) - former President of El Salvador
Santiago Phelan (1974-) - Argentinian rugby player
Santiago Rodriguez (1952-) - Cuban-American pianist
Santiago Segura (1965-) - Spanish actor and screenwriter
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015)
USA: 127th
England and Wales: 410th
Chile: 23rd
Italy: 98th
Mexico: 1st
Portugal: 4th
Spain: 83rd
Lucky colors: white, light green
Lucky stone: pearl
Ruling planet: the Moon
Characteristics: alert, contemplative, curious, focused, innovative
The main character in E. Hemingway’s novel The Old Man and the Sea is named Santiago.