Tiago

♂ Boy

Pronounced tee-AH-goh /tiˈɑː.ɡoʊ/High

Meaning: Supplanter; Portuguese/Spanish form of James (Jacobo → Tiago), from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to grasp the heel, to supplant)High

In 30 seconds: The Portuguese form of James, meaning 'supplanter' from Hebrew Jacob. Tiago evolved from Jacobo through several phonetic transformations in Iberian languages. It is one of Portugal's most popular boys' names.

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Origin HighPortuguese, Hebrew

MeaningSupplanter; Portuguese/Spanish form of James (Jacobo → Tiago), from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to grasp the heel, to supplant)

U.S. rank (2025)#1117 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births192 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,227

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

Tiago is the Portuguese short form of Thiago/Santiago, ultimately from Hebrew Jacob (Ya'aqov: supplanter). The name evolved through Old Spanish Yago/Santiago (Saint James). It is extremely popular in Portugal and Brazil.

Tiago ranked #1156 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? The evolution from Jacob to Tiago is one of linguistics' great sound-change stories: Hebrew Ya'aqov → Latin Jacobus → Old Spanish Yago/Iago → Portuguese Tiago. So the Portuguese name Tiago is the same name as the English Jacob — just filtered through 2,000 years of Iberian sound changes.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Tiago — Portuguese/Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ThiagoSantiagoDiego

Nicknames

TiTia

Famous Bearers

★Tiago Splitter (1985-)
Brazilian former NBA basketball player and coach

If you like Tiago…

Thiago— the fuller form with the same Hebrew-through-Iberian etymology

Santiago— the 'Saint James' compound in the same Iberian James tradition

Diego— the Spanish form of the same James/Jacob root

Mateo— Spanish form of Matthew sharing the same warm Iberian feel

Explore names like Tiago

By themehebrew three-syllable portuguese iberian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tiago mean?

Tiago means 'supplanter,' the Portuguese form of James, from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to grasp the heel, to supplant).

How do you pronounce Tiago?

It's said tee-AH-goh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Tiago a boy or girl name?

Tiago is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Tiago?

Tiago ranked #1156 for U.S. boys in 2024.