The name Diego is believed to be a shortened form of the Spanish name Santiago, meaning "Saint James," but some parents use it as a California-inspired name, as in San Diego. Other theories suggest that it's derived from the Greek word didache, meaning "teaching." It first appeared in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 for boy names in 1958 but didn't truly catch on until the 1980s, perhaps thanks to legendary Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona. It has now been a top-150 boy's name every year since 1999 and spent 10 years inside the top-100 (2002-11).
