Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Santa
GirlItalian, Spanish· “holy, saint”
- Meaning
- holy, saint
- Origin
- Italian, Spanish
- Pronunciation
- SAN-tuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #8,267
- US babies 2025
- 13
- Best rank
- #723 (1915)
- Peak year
- 1923
Meaning and origin of Santa
Santa is an Italian and Spanish name that means “holy, saint”.
Santa is the Italian and Spanish word for holy or female saint, from the Latin sanctus. As a given name it has long been used in Italy and Latin America, often in honor of saints or of the Virgin Mary. It is also found in Latvian. In the United States, Santa is strongly associated with Santa Claus, whose name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas, which makes the given name unusual in English. It is said SAN-tuh. The name carries a warm, devout character in the cultures where it is traditional.
Popularity over time
Santa first appears in US Social Security records in 1896. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 22 different years, starting in 1904. Its best national rank was #723 in 1915, and the most babies received it in 1923, when 89 were named Santa. In 2025, 13 babies were named Santa, and it ranked #8,267 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #864 in 1920, #1,247 in 1950, #2,302 in 1980, #17,093 in 2000, #11,105 in 2010, and #8,267 in 2025. Of the 4,370 US girls named Santa since records began, 17% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 556 babies. Since 2010, 171 more have been named Santa.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kattie, Elenore, Hazle, Arvilla, and Theola.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Santa is usually pronounced SAN-tuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ta”.
Middle names for Santa
A few middle names that flow with Santa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Santa
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Lists that include Santa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Santa mean?
Santa is an Italian and Spanish name that means “holy, saint”.
What is the origin of the name Santa?
Santa has Italian, Spanish, and Latin roots. Santa is the Italian and Spanish word for holy or female saint, from the Latin sanctus.
Is Santa a popular name?
Not especially. Santa ranked #8,267 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Santa a boy or girl name?
Santa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Santa?
Santa is usually pronounced SAN-tuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings