santo

Santo is a word in Spanish and Portuguese that means "saint." It functions as a religious term and appears in various proper names, place names, and cultural references.

As a name, Santo is used as a given name and surname in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. It also appears as a stage name or epithet in entertainment and public life, reflecting the conventional association with sainthood or sacred identity.

The most famous bearer of the name is El Santo, the ring name of Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta (1917–1984), a Mexican professional wrestler and film star. Known for his silver mask and fearless persona, he became an enduring icon of Lucha Libre and appeared in numerous films during the 1950s through the 1980s.

In film and popular culture, the El Santo film cycle contributed to Mexican genre cinema by blending wrestling with science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The character’s image and adventures helped shape Latin American superhero tropes and left a lasting imprint on regional pop culture.

In toponymy, Santo appears in the names of several towns and geographical localities across the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking world, often as part of longer names honoring saints. It can be found in compound place names such as Santo Domingo or Santo Antônio, reflecting broader religious and cultural traditions.

Ecclesiastically, santo remains the fundamental term for “saint” in religious calendars, dedications, and hagiography, linking the word to saints venerated in Christian traditions.