Find out how popular the first name Diego has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Diego by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Diego is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Diego being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,734 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Diego.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Diego in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Diego

The name Diego is of Spanish origin, derived from the old Spanish form "Diago" or "Iago" which in turn comes from the Greek name "Iakobos" meaning "supplanter" or "heel-catcher". The name is a Spanish variant of the name James or Jacob, which are derived from the same Greek root.

Diego is a masculine name that has been in use since the Middle Ages in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Diego dates back to the 8th century, when a figure named Diego Porcelos was mentioned in the Codex of Roda, a medieval Spanish cartulary.

In the 12th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Diego de Acevedo, a Spanish nobleman and military leader who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors. Another notable figure from this time period was Diego Gelmírez, the first Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, who lived from 1070 to 1140.

During the Renaissance, the name Diego was carried by several influential individuals, including the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), known for his masterpieces such as "Las Meninas" and portraits of the Spanish royal family. Another famous Diego from this era was the conquistador Diego de Almagro (1475-1538), who participated in the Spanish conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro.

In the 19th century, the name Diego was borne by the Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera (1886-1957), whose iconic works celebrated the history and culture of Mexico. Another notable figure was the Spanish writer and philosopher Diego de Torres Villarroel (1693-1770), known for his satirical works.

More recently, the name Diego has been carried by several athletes, such as the Mexican footballer Diego Maradona (1960-2020), widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and the Spanish tennis player Diego Schwartzman (born 1992), who has achieved success on the ATP Tour.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Diego was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Diego, please contact us.

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