Santiago is a popular given name of Spanish origin, derived from the place name Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The name means "Saint James" and has been used for centuries to honor the apostle Saint James the Greater.
The name Santiago first appeared as a given name during the Middle Ages in Spain, where it was often bestowed on male children in honor of the apostle Saint James, who is believed to have been buried at Compostela. The name gained popularity outside of Spain through the spread of Christianity and has since become common throughout Latin America.
Throughout history, Santiago has been associated with several notable figures, including Santiago de Lema, a Spanish explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of the Philippines during the 16th century. Additionally, the city of Santiago de Chile is named after Santiago de Compostela, further cementing the name's connection to Spain and its history.
In popular culture, Santiago has been used as a character name in various movies, books, and television shows, including "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "Santiago, Cuba." Today, Santiago remains a popular given name for boys around the world, particularly among Spanish-speaking communities.
Based on the provided statistics, let's explore the popularity of the name Santiago over time in the United States.
In the year 1980, there were 7 births with the name Santiago in the U.S., marking a starting point for our analysis. By 2019, the number of newborns named Santiago had decreased to 5. However, it's interesting to note that this trend did not continue into 2022, as the number of babies named Santiago returned to 5 births that year.
Overall, since 1980 until 2022, there have been a total of 17 newborns named Santiago in the United States. While the popularity of the name has fluctuated over these decades, it has maintained a consistent presence among baby names chosen by parents in the U.S.