Iago
/iˈɑː.ɡoʊ/noun
A Spanish and Portuguese given name, equivalent to James, and a literary name made famous by Shakespeare's villain in Othello.
Did you know?Iago is the Spanish and Portuguese form of James, ultimately tracing back to the same Hebrew root as Jacob, a name that historically meant something like “heel-grabber” or “supplanter.”
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew Bible
Hebrew
Yaʿaqov
“Jacob, a patriarchal name traditionally associated with the idea of supplanting or following at the heel.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iakōbos
“A Greek form of Jacob used for biblical and Christian names.”
Late Latin
Latin
Iacomus
“A later Latin form used for James.”
Old Spanish
Spanish
Iago
“A Spanish form of James, especially in medieval usage.”
Modern English
English
Iago
“A given name known in English chiefly from Shakespeare's villain in Othello.”