Updated May 24, 2023

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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

Discover more baby name meanings to learn what's behind every name. 

Boy name variations

Diaz

Diaz

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jago

Jago

- 44% this year
Masculine
Rare
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James

James

- 3% this year
Masculine
Common
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Jaymes

Jaymes

+ 7% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jaime

Jaime

+ 2% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Jaymie

Jaymie

- 11% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamy

Jamy

+ 20% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jaimie

Jaimie

+ 20% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Jamesy

Jamesy

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jameson

Jameson

- 6% this year
Masculine
Common
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Jamey

Jamey

+ 40% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Jan

Jan

+ 10% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Jay

Jay

+ 3% this year
Masculine
Uncommon
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Jim

Jim

- 8% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jimmy

Jimmy

- 2% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jimmie

Jimmie

- 26% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jimbo

Jimbo

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Giacomo

Giacomo

+ 48% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Seamus

Seamus

- 10% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Sheamus

Sheamus

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Shamus

Shamus

- 45% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Hamish

Hamish

- 12% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Santiago

Santiago

+ 19% this year
Masculine
Common
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Jaemes

Jaemes

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jaimes

Jaimes

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jaemie

Jaemie

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jaemy

Jaemy

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jame

Jame

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jameyel

Jameyel

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jami

Jami

+ 25% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamia

Jamia

- 8% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamiah

Jamiah

- 40% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamian

Jamian

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamiee

Jamiee

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamme

Jamme

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jammey

Jammey

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jammie

Jammie

+ 20% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jammy

Jammy

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamye

Jamye

+ 33% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jameze

Jameze

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamze

Jamze

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamieson

Jamieson

+ 7% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamison

Jamison

- 14% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jamiesen

Jamiesen

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Santi

Santi

+ 75% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Chago

Chago

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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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

Diego pairs well with these middle names

Diego appears on these baby name lists:

People who like the name Diego also like:

Meaning and Origin of Diego