Santos first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Santos

A masculine Spanish name meaning "saints" or "holy ones".

Popularity of Santos by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Santos is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Santos being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 314 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Santos.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 314 0
2022 274 0
2021 273 0
2020 243 0
2019 220 0
2018 205 0
2017 208 0
2016 215 0
2015 236 0
2014 237 0
2013 242 0
2012 212 0
2011 229 0
2010 240 0
2009 254 0
2008 294 5
2007 273 5
2006 302 5
2005 259 5
2004 236 8
2003 277 7
2002 245 7
2001 246 5
2000 227 7
1999 238 0
1998 227 10
1997 217 12
1996 221 0
1995 233 0
1994 209 6
1993 223 11
1992 189 10
1991 215 8
1990 186 6
1989 172 6
1988 157 9
1987 177 12
1986 185 7
1985 176 13
1984 162 10
1983 199 15
1982 180 14
1981 226 13
1980 221 9
1979 172 9
1978 172 17
1977 178 10
1976 172 7
1975 190 24
1974 172 16

The history of the first name Santos

The given name Santos originates from the Latin language and the word "sanctus," meaning "holy" or "saintly." This name has its roots in early Christianity and was likely first used as a descriptive nickname or honorific for individuals who were regarded as particularly devout or virtuous.

In the early centuries of the Christian era, as the religion spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name Santos may have been bestowed upon those who dedicated their lives to the faith or achieved a level of spiritual reverence. It carried connotations of piety, righteousness, and a connection to the divine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Santos can be found in the writings of the Church Fathers, who were influential Christian theologians and scholars from the 2nd to the 8th century. These texts often mentioned individuals with the name Santos, typically in the context of religious leadership or martyrdom.

As Christianity gained prominence, the name Santos became more widespread, particularly in regions with strong Catholic traditions, such as the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and parts of Latin America. The veneration of saints in these cultures further solidified the name's association with holiness and spirituality.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Santos, including Santos Dumont (1873-1932), a Brazilian aviation pioneer renowned for his pioneering work in airship design and flight. Another prominent figure was Santos Inocentez (1900-1981), a Filipino poet and playwright whose works explored themes of nationalism and social justice.

In the 16th century, Santos Garcia (1542-1610), a Spanish Roman Catholic priest, gained recognition for his missionary work and efforts to convert indigenous populations in the Americas. Similarly, Santos Luzardo (1786-1868), a Venezuelan military leader and politician, played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence.

The name Santos has also been associated with religious figures, such as Santos Marmolejo (1535-1592), a Spanish Dominican friar and missionary who introduced Christianity to parts of Central America. His legacy as a pioneering evangelist and defender of indigenous rights earned him widespread respect.

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 Santos was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Santos first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 18, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/santos-meaning-and-history/.

"Santos first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/santos-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 18 October, 2024

Santos first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/santos-meaning-and-history/.

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