Diego

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Diego

Gender: Masculine
Language: Spanish
Etymology:
Diego is usually considered as a contraction of the name Santiago, or Saint James.

However, it is also theorized that the name is of an unknown Basque origin, for in earliset forms, it apperas as Didago, or Didaco (Latin: Didacus).

History:
Diego was a popular name in medieval Spain, where was is often found (in earlier times) as Didaco.

It was not common in Mexico or the United States of the 19th century, btu has slowly grown throughout the 20th.

Pronunciation: dee-ay-go.

Alternates: Didago, Diago, Didaco.
Latin: Didacus.
Portuguese: Diogo.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Diego de Siloé (1495-1563)
Spanish sculptor.
Diego Velázquez (1599-1660)
Spanish painter.
Diego Rivera (1886-1957)
Mexican painter.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Diego Barros Arana (1830-1907)
Chilean historian.

Fictional Characters:
Don Diego de la Vega
Zorro’s alter ego.

Miscellaneous:
Diogo Gomes (lived during the mid 1400s)
Portuguese explorer. Explored the African coast.
Diogo Cão (lived during the late 1400s)
Portuguese explorer.
Diogo Colón (Columbus) (1479-1526)
Eldest son of Christopher Columbus.

Places:
San Diego
California.

Political Figures:
Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (1465-1524)
Spanish governor of Cuba.
Diego Portales (1793-1837)
Dictator of Chile.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.011 % named Diego

Popularity of Diego:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 857th most popular.
1910-1940: N/A
1940-1950: 997th most popular.
1950-1960: 913th most popular.
1960-1970: 884th most popular.
1970-1980: 669th most popular.
1980-1990: 407th most popular.
1990-2000: 242nd most popular.
1998: 177th most popular.
1999: 147th most popular.
2000: 137th most popular.
2001: 132nd most popular.
2002: 94th most popular.
2003: 76th most popular.