Fun Facts About the Name Diago
- 419 babies named Diago: U.S. records list 419 babies given the name Diago from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Diago Mean?
Diago is a rare spelling of the Spanish name Diego, whose Portuguese counterpart is Diogo. The customary meaning given for these names is "supplanter," the sense attached to James, the English form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (Jacob) as it passed through Greek Iakobos and Latin Iacobus. In the Iberian Peninsula that link runs through Santiago, "Saint James," in which Iago is an old form of James.
A second explanation derives Diego from the Latin Didacus, the name under which the fifteenth-century Spanish friar known as San Diego de Alcalá was recorded. The origin of Didacus itself is not settled; a suggested connection with Greek didachē, "teaching," is a guess rather than a demonstrated root. Which line produced Diego - and therefore Diago - is still disputed, so "supplanter" reflects the traditional identification with James rather than a certain etymology.
Diago Name History & Origins
Diago is recorded in medieval Spanish documents as one of several spellings of the name now written Diego; forms such as Diago, Diaco, and Dieco appear before the modern spelling became standard. The name is old in Iberia and is the Spanish counterpart of James, with the Portuguese equivalent Diogo.
One traditional account of how the name took shape links it to Santiago, "Saint James": the old Spanish Iago (James) is said to have been altered in everyday speech so that Sant Iago yielded both Santiago and, by a separate path, Diego. A competing account connects the name with the Latin Didacus. Because the two explanations have long been argued side by side, the early development of the name is not settled.
From Spain and Portugal the name spread to Latin America with Spanish and Portuguese settlement. In English-speaking use, Diago is uncommon and is generally met as a spelling variant of Diego.
How Popular is the Name Diago?
Diago has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2021. Its best rank was #3,033 in 2021.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,974 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #4,087 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #3,485 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #4,460 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #3,033 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2020 | #6,046 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #5,627 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,150 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #4,782 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #4,659 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #5,353 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #7,693 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #8,995 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #9,979 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #9,940 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #7,849 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #11,427 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,035 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #6,569 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #4,682 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #5,316 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #7,398 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #7,841 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #5,457 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #8,440 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #10,332 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #7,027 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #6,220 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #9,376 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Diago Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Diago's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Diago's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.