All about the name

Santana

Female

« The name Santana is of Spanish origin, meaning "saint" or "holy," derived from the word "santo." It has been used historically as a given name and surname since the Middle Ages in Spain. »

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Meaning, origin, history

The name Santana is of Spanish origin and means "saint" or "holy." It was derived from the Spanish word "santo," which means saint. The name has been used historically as a given name, but it is also often used as a surname. The use of Santana as a given name dates back to at least the Middle Ages in Spain. It was typically given to children who were born around religious holidays or whose parents had a strong devotion to a particular saint. Some examples of saints with the name Santana include Saint Ana, a Spanish nun who lived in the 17th century, and Saint Ana de Padua, an Italian nun who founded a convent in the 15th century. The name Santana has also been associated with music, particularly since the rise to fame of guitarist Carlos Santana. Born in Mexico but raised in San Francisco, Carlos Santana formed his band Santana in the late 1960s and achieved international success with hits like "Oye Como Va" and "Black Magic Woman." Although not named after the guitarist, the name Santana has become increasingly popular as a given name since the 1970s. Today, Santana is still used as both a given name and a surname. It remains popular in Spain and Latin America, but it has also gained popularity internationally. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, for example, Santana has been among the top 1,000 boys' names every year since 2004. In conclusion, Santana is a name of Spanish origin that means "saint" or "holy." It was historically given to children who were born around religious holidays or whose parents had a strong devotion to a particular saint. Today, it remains popular both as a given name and a surname, particularly in Spain and Latin America, but also internationally.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Santana since 1880

Total births
5,738
Total since 1880
Peak year
1985
385 births
in 2023
141
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+49%
vs previous 5 years