Where does “Santa” come from?
Santa (English) comes from Spanish santa, from Old Spanish sancta, from Latin sānctus, from Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος, from Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ, from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב, from Hebrew עָקֵב — heel of the foot; heel.
Ancestry of “Santa”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Spanish | santa | feminine singular of santo; female equivalent of... |
| 2 | Old Spanish | sancta | — |
| 3 | Latin | sānctus | — |
| 4 | Latin | Iacobus | Jacob; James; Saint James |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Ἰάκωβος | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ἰακώβ | — |
| 7 | Hebrew | יַעֲקֹב | Jacob |
| 8 | Hebrew | עָקֵב | heel of the foot; heel |
Words derived from “Santa”