Diego

♀ Girl

Pronounced dee-AY-goh /diˈeɪ.ɡoʊ/High

Meaning: The Spanish Diego, long linked to Santiago (Saint James) and also traced to the Latin Didacus. It is overwhelmingly a boy's name (Diego Maradona; San Diego) and is flagged here for the clear cross-sex lean.Low

In 30 seconds: A classic Spanish name: Diego ties to Santiago/James (said 'dee-AY-goh'). Overwhelmingly a boy's name — we note the lean plainly.

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Origin MediumSpanish

MeaningThe Spanish Diego, long linked to Santiago (Saint James) and also traced to the Latin Didacus. It is overwhelmingly a boy's name (Diego Maradona; San Diego) and is flagged here for the clear cross-sex lean.

U.S. rank (2023)#15795 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 239

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Diego is a Spanish classic, tied to Santiago (Saint James) and also traced to the Latin Didacus. It is overwhelmingly a boy's name — carried by figures like Diego Maradona and lending its name to San Diego. Used here for a girl, the cross-sex lean is strong, which we note plainly (said 'dee-AY-goh').

For girls it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against overwhelming boys' use. Rare for girls, classic, and clearly boy-leaning.

Did you know? Diego has been a beloved Spanish boys' name for centuries, linked to Santiago (Saint James) and seen in San Diego and in Diego Maradona; it is overwhelmingly male, which we note plainly (said 'dee-AY-goh').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Diego — Spanish, Santiago/James; overwhelmingly male — cross-sex flag

Variations

DiagoDegoSantiago

Nicknames

DeoDee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Diego…

Santiago— the fuller name Diego springs from

Mateo— a like Spanish classic

Diana— a like D- name for a girl

Paloma— a like Spanish girl's name

Explore names like Diego

By themespanish classic cross-sex boy-leaning

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Diego mean?

Diego is a Spanish name tied to Santiago (Saint James), also traced to the Latin Didacus.

How do you pronounce Diego?

It's said dee-AY-goh /diˈeɪ.ɡoʊ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Diego a boy or girl name?

Diego is overwhelmingly a boy's name; its use for a girl is very unusual, which we note plainly.

How popular is Diego?

For girls Diego is extremely rare; it is far more common as a boy's name.