Santo Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Santo is a name of Spanish and Italian origin that means 'holy' or 'saint.' It evolved from the Latin 'sanctus' and has been used historically to honor saints in Christian tradition. The name reflects traits of piety and cultural significance, particularly in Latin communities, and has variants like Sancho and Santos.
The name Santo is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Santo has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Santo' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 678th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 825th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1167th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1397th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2546th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4215th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4586th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Santo' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Santo"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɑːn.toʊ/
Origin
Spanish, Italian
Etymology
The name Santo derives from the Latin word 'sanctus,' meaning 'holy' or 'saint.' It is often used as a given name or a title in reference to saints.
Meaning
holy, saint
Language Evolution
Sanctus (Latin), Saint (Old French), Santo (Spanish/Italian)
Historical Usage
The name Santo gained popularity in Christian contexts, particularly in Spanish-speaking and Italian-speaking regions, during the Middle Ages as a way to honor saints.
Variants & Derivatives
Sancho, Santos, Sante
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Santo is perceived as a traditional and culturally significant name within Latin communities, often associated with piety and reverence.
Famous People
Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic), Santo Bugito (Mexican professional wrestler)
Explore More Santo Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Santo"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Santo"
"Santo" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 678th of 7545 | 1,392 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 825th of 6773 | 1,068 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1167th of 7552 | 793 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1397th of 10718 | 606 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2546th of 16616 | 391 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4215th of 24088 | 334 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4586th of 23106 | 260 |
Regional Popularity of "Santo" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
49.51% 701st/1416 |
20.52% 283rd/1379 |
91.55% 2166th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
55.30% 855th/1546 |
21.02% 327th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
22.14% 538th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
57.71% 1695th/2937 |
19.44% 677th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
28.38% 1270th/4475 |
- |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
44.13% 2279th/5164 |
- |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
56.54% 2537th/4487 |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
57.33% 3598th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Santo" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Santo"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Santo" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.