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Origin, Meaning, and History of Santiago
Santiago is a Spanish name that translates to ‘Saint James’ in English. The name is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means ‘keeper of the heel’ or ‘supplanter.’ Saint James was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and is the patron saint of Spain. The name Santiago became famous during the Middle Ages when Spain was under Christian authority.
Saint James is claimed to have preached in Spain during the early years of Christianity, and his relics were believed to have been returned to Spain after his death in Jerusalem. In the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, became an important pilgrimage site for Christians. It is thought to be the final resting place of Saint James.
The phonetic spelling of the name Santiago is san-tee-ah-goh. The name has many variations in different languages due to the several forms of the name James. They include Giacomo in Italian, Jacobus in Dutch, Jacques in French, Yakov in Russian, Yakub in Arabic, and Jaime in Spanish. Santiago is still a popular baby boy name in Spanish-speaking countries.
The name also finds mention in popular culture. Santiago is the prominent character in Ernest Hemingway’s novel ‘The Old Man and the Sea.’ Santiago is a character in Federico Garcia Lorca’s play ‘The House of Bernarda Alba. Santiago Nasar is another popular character in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel ‘Chronicle of a Death Foretold.’
In addition to the literature, Santiago was chosen as a character name for several movies and series. Santiago ‘Papa’ Alvarez is a character from ‘Sons of Anarchy.’ Santiago Muez is a fictional character in the film ‘Goal!,’ while Santiago Cabrera is a character from the television show ‘Big Little Lies.’
How To Pronounce Santiago?
Famous People With The Name Santiago
- Santiago CabreraChilean-American actor best known for his role as Isaac Mendez in the television series Heroes
- Santiago DouglasAmerican actor who has acted in films such as “Jungle 2 Jungle” and “Don’t Say a Word”
- Santiago ArceRetired American soccer player
- Santiago CasillaDominican-American former baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2018
- Santiago SeguraSpanish actor, director, and screenwriter known for his role in the 1995 film The Day of the Beast
- Santiago Ramón y CajalSpanish neuroscientist who received the Physiology or Medicine Nobel Prize in 1906
Names With Similar Sound As Santiago
There are several names that sound similar to Santiago. Check them out here.
Names With Similar Meaning As Santiago
Looking for more names that refer to Saint James? Here are some popular names with similar meanings to Santiago.
Name Numerology For Santiago
