Modesto Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: moh-DES-toh /mɔˈdɛs.toʊ/
Origin: Spanish; Italian
Meaning: Spanish: 'modest'; Italian: 'modest'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Modesto has its roots in the Latin word "modestus," which means "moderate" or "humble." This Latin term evolved through various linguistic stages, influencing the development of the name in different cultures. The transition from Latin to the Romance languages, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula, saw the emergence of the name Modesto in forms such as "Modestus" in ecclesiastical contexts.
The name was subsequently adopted into Spanish and Italian, where it became more commonly used as Modesto. Historically, the name Modesto is associated with several notable figures, particularly in the Christian tradition.
One of the earliest references is Saint Modestus, a 4th-century bishop of Jerusalem, who is recognized in the Catholic Church. His veneration contributed to the name's adoption in Christian communities.
Additionally, the name appears in various hagiographies and ecclesiastical texts throughout the Middle Ages, reinforcing its significance within the Christian tradition. The name was also included in the Latin Vulgate Bible, further embedding it in religious contexts.
Culturally, the name Modesto carries connotations of humility and moderation, reflecting the virtues valued in many religious and philosophical traditions. This symbolic resonance has allowed the name to endure across generations.
In some regions, diminutive forms such as "Modi" have emerged, though these are less common in historical texts. Overall, Modesto's etymological roots and historical associations contribute to its lasting presence in various cultures, particularly within Christian communities.
Famous people named Modesto
In this section, you will find notable people named Modesto. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Modesto who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Modesto who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Modesto de la Torre is a musician best known for his work with the band Los Angeles Azules.
Modesto C. de la Torre is a writer best known for his contributions to Latin American literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Modesto, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Modesto. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Modesto was first seen in the United States in 1908.
Modesto has ranked as high as #852 nationally, which occurred in 1927, and has been most popular in Texas, California, New York, New Mexico, and Colorado.
In the past 5 years the name Modesto has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Modesto is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Modesto was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Modesto (2022)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Modesto.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2001 | 31 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 1998 | 30 |
| 1997 | 23 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 1995 | 28 |
| 1994 | 27 |
| 1993 | 23 |
| 1992 | 28 |
| 1991 | 37 |
| 1990 | 34 |
| 1989 | 26 |
| 1988 | 30 |
| 1987 | 20 |
| 1986 | 31 |
| 1985 | 29 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1983 | 27 |
| 1982 | 20 |
| 1981 | 31 |
| 1980 | 34 |
| 1979 | 31 |
| 1978 | 28 |
| 1977 | 26 |
| 1976 | 32 |
| 1975 | 20 |
| 1974 | 27 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 37 |
| 1971 | 30 |
| 1970 | 32 |
| 1969 | 37 |
| 1968 | 26 |
| 1967 | 25 |
| 1966 | 25 |
| 1965 | 22 |
| 1964 | 16 |
| 1963 | 23 |
| 1962 | 27 |
| 1961 | 23 |
| 1960 | 36 |
| 1959 | 34 |
| 1958 | 37 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 19 |
| 1955 | 23 |
| 1954 | 12 |
| 1953 | 26 |
| 1952 | 21 |
| 1951 | 26 |
| 1950 | 22 |
| 1949 | 24 |
| 1948 | 29 |
| 1947 | 23 |
| 1946 | 24 |
| 1945 | 26 |
| 1944 | 27 |
| 1943 | 19 |
| 1942 | 27 |
| 1941 | 25 |
| 1940 | 21 |
| 1939 | 17 |
| 1938 | 25 |
| 1937 | 16 |
| 1936 | 13 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 16 |
| 1933 | 16 |
| 1932 | 23 |
| 1931 | 25 |
| 1930 | 25 |
| 1929 | 29 |
| 1928 | 28 |
| 1927 | 37 |
| 1926 | 28 |
| 1925 | 34 |
| 1924 | 22 |
| 1923 | 20 |
| 1922 | 10 |
| 1921 | 11 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1919 | 14 |
| 1918 | 20 |
| 1917 | 18 |
| 1916 | 19 |
| 1915 | 18 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 8 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1908 | 7 |