Diego
Boy name · #158 in 2025 · Uniqueness 51/100
Diego ranks #158 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 2,351 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #125, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 766 boys born in 2025 was named Diego.
Babies named Diego per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 138-year story
Diego first appears in the Social Security records in 1887, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 8,403 boys were named Diego — good for #56 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Diego against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Diego in class?
Diego scores 51 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Diego is most common
Geography matters for names, and Diego is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Diegos were CA (499), TX (476), FL (186), AZ (100), IL (88). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Diego
Statistically, parents drawn to Diego tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Hayden, Caden, Riley, Ashton, and Evan.
HaydenCadenRileyAshtonEvanConnorRodrigoJonah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Diego | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,351 | #158 |
| 2024 | 2,511 | #145 |
| 2023 | 2,747 | #135 |
| 2022 | 2,970 | #124 |
| 2021 | 2,925 | #126 |
| 2020 | 2,910 | #126 |
| 2019 | 2,990 | #129 |
| 2018 | 2,884 | #135 |
| 2017 | 3,102 | #129 |
| 2016 | 3,201 | #130 |
| 2015 | 3,237 | #125 |
| 2014 | 3,171 | #129 |
| 2013 | 2,921 | #130 |
| 2012 | 3,337 | #110 |
| 2011 | 3,824 | #99 |
| 2010 | 4,719 | #86 |
| 2009 | 5,414 | #76 |
| 2008 | 6,572 | #69 |
| 2007 | 8,216 | #58 |
| 2006 | 8,403 | #56 |
| 2005 | 6,942 | #62 |
| 2004 | 5,876 | #73 |
| 2003 | 5,121 | #83 |
| 2002 | 3,979 | #98 |
| 2001 | 2,833 | #139 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Diego a popular boy name?
Diego ranked #158 among boys in 2025 with 2,351 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #125.
When was the name Diego most popular?
Diego peaked in 2006, when 8,403 American boys received the name (ranked #56 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Diego?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 766 newborn American boys was named Diego. It scores 51/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.