Diego is a Spanish name of uncertain origin; it is usually explained as a short form of Santiago, Saint James, so "supplanter", although medieval scribes also latinized it as Didacus, "taught". Painter Diego Rivera and soccer legend Diego Maradona are its most famous bearers. In the United States Diego ranked 147th in 2000, entered the top 100 in 2002 and peaked at number 56 in 2006; in 2025 it stands at number 158.