Boy name origins & meanings
- Spanish: Supplanter
- Hebrew: Supplanter, substitute; the patron saint of Spain
- Spanish: Supplanter
What does Diego mean and stand for?
The name Diego is of Spanish origin and means "supplanter." It is believed to be derived from the name Santiago, and in medieval times, Diego was Latinized as Didacus. It is believed Didacus derives from the Greek word didache, meaning "teaching."
Syllables: 3
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Boy name variations
How Popular Is The Name Diego
Family name origins & meanings
- Spanish: from the personal name Diego, which is of uncertain derivation. It was early taken to be a reduced form of Santiago, and is commonly taken by English speakers as being a form of James, but this is no more than folk etymology. It is found in the Middle Ages in the Latin forms Didacus and Didagus, which Meyer-Lübke derived from Greek didakhē ‘doctrine’, ‘teaching’, but in view of the fact that it is unknown outside the Iberian Peninsula, it may possibly have a pre-Roman origin.
Popularity of the Name Diego
According to Social Security Administration data, Diego has been stagnantly popular as a baby boy name, shifting only a few spots (up and down) for the last decade, staying between 120 and 130.
However, it is the 18th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.
According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years, Diego was at its peak popularity in December 2017.
Diego is a popular Spanish name that is quickly rising in the ranks due to its energetic feel and ability to work with various surnames. Two of the most notable Diegos include the painter Diego Rivera and the Sevillian Saint Diego. Diego is also a popular choice for entertainment, manifesting as a character in Go, Diego, Go (Dora the Explorer's cousin), Ice Age, Sky, and Zorro. The name also invokes images of the popular San Diego, California.
Where is the name Diego popular?
Diego was searched for most often in the following states:
Nicknames for Diego
- Dee