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Biggest "Saint" Cities

Name the most populous urban areas whose name starts with Saint, San, São, Santa, or Santo.
Urban area population, not city proper
According to citypopulation.de, January 2023
Santiago is given so that nobody feels aggrieved
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: March 1, 2023
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First submittedJanuary 3, 2011
Times taken76,970
Average score54.5%
Rating4.33
2:30
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Population
City
23.0 m
São Paulo
8.05 m
Santiago
7.95 m
San Francisco
6.40 m
Saint Petersburg
4.18 m
Santo Domingo
3.30 m
San Diego
Population
City
2.43 m
San José
2.35 m
Saint Louis
2.33 m
San Antonio
2.33 m
Santa Cruz
1.93 m
San Salvador
1.91 m
San Juan
70 Comments
+22
Level 84
Jan 18, 2015
What? San Dimas is not on here? But San Dimas High School Football RULES!!
+15
Level 81
Jan 30, 2015
You get an A on your history report.
+1
Level 51
Mar 20, 2021
Bill and Ted would agree!
+9
Level 77
Jan 24, 2015
What about Sana'a? Perhaps in brackets like Santiago? Almost 2 million according to wikipedia
+10
Level 81
Jan 30, 2015
I think there was a previous version of this quiz where there was a pretty silly argument about whether or not Santiago was really named for a saint or not. And the quiz title was slightly different. IMO those arguing against Santiago's inclusion were making pretty bad arguments but if I remember correctly QM decided to concede the point and removed Santiago from the quiz. Now it is back on but in brackets and given as a freebie, with a change to the title of the quiz, I guess in efforts to avoid the same argument. But, now a new issue has been raised since Sana'a, while not named for any saint obviously, does start with "san"... that didn't come up before.
+22
Level 71
Jan 30, 2015
Santiago means Saint James so I don't see how it couldn't be included in this list as a genuine 'Saint City'. Maybe I'm missing something.
+14
Level 81
Jan 30, 2015
If I recall correctly they were saying that the city was named after another city named Santiago or something along those lines and so therefore it wasn't named after the saint. But, of course, that's silly... like I said...
+2
Level 81
May 1, 2019
and I think the name of the quiz was changed yet again.
+18
Level 58
Oct 20, 2017
Sana'a might begin with San, but as the name of the quiz is about cities named after saints, common sense that Sana'a is not applicable.
+6
Level 81
Dec 3, 2018
If we were all using common sense then the original argument wouldn't have taken place.
+9
Level 72
Mar 15, 2020
If we we're all using common sense, most comment sections on this site would be empty.. Sad but true, though entertaining at times :) (though extremely tiresome at other times)
+6
Level 65
Jan 30, 2015
Too bad it's not large enough to qualify because I would have liked to see the "Comments" debate as to whether Sandusky (Ohio) would be a legit answer.
+2
Level 72
Mar 15, 2020
Apparently comes from polish, meaning from the orchard. It an several variations of it is a last name. Sadowski being one of them. Garth is a name with a similar meaning.
+3
Level 10
Jul 27, 2015
Well... I didn't read the instructions
+2
Level 60
Jul 6, 2016
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. (pop. 2,596,000 as in 2010)
+8
Level 80
Oct 10, 2016
You're thinking of the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The city has a population of around 700,000.
+4
Level 89
Jul 9, 2016
Santiago, Chile. approx 5.1mm, means Saint James
+5
Level 81
Aug 3, 2016
Arrived in St Petersburg yesterday. Gorgeous city.
+3
Level 65
Feb 23, 2017
I'm pretty sure "santa" means holy...
+16
Level 81
May 17, 2018
What do you think "saint" means?
+5
Level 81
May 17, 2018
There's a clue about the etymology if you look at the Russian spelling of Sankt Peterburg.
+2
Level 57
May 6, 2017
st Augustine (fl)

st paul de vence (france)

+2
Level 11
Oct 20, 2017
San Francisco doesnt have a population of 7 million. San Jose is bigger yet listed with a lower population. The quiz either has to use city proper populations or metro populations but you cant use the CSA population that is a combination of both SJ and SF and only attribute it to SF.
+6
Level 91
Oct 20, 2017
This quiz like most that are featured on Jet Punk uses the populations of the very reputable web site, citypopulation.de specifically this list: http://citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html. Sorry you don't like it but it's the gold standard for urban population centers on Jet Punk.
+7
Level 74
Oct 21, 2017
It gets confusing when talking about urban, metro, or city proper populations, and I don't even know what an "agglomeration" is - but that link doesn't work. I understand what Cali is saying about San Francisco. San Jose is both older and larger than San Francisco. According to Wikipedia the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolitan statistical area has a population of 4.6 million. If you count the 12-county combined statistical area (CSA) which also includes San Jose, the population is 8.7 million. I looked on the citypopulation.de website and it gives the population of San Francisco as 880,887 and San Jose as 1,025,350. However, the projected population of San Jose, Costa Rica for 2017 is listed as 1,621,400 so I'm guessing that is the San Jose listed in this quiz, and not the one in California which must already be grouped in with San Francisco.
+8
Level 73
Oct 30, 2020
I'm guessing the San Jose mentioned here is the one in Costa Rica?
+2
Level 67
Mar 20, 2021
No, the one in Northern California by Sacramento and San Francisco. San Jose, Costa Rica isn't nearly as populated.
+3
Level 73
Apr 21, 2023
Confidently incorrect.
+1
Level 62
Mar 20, 2021
The quiz says urban population, not metro. San Francisco and San Jose are listed as two different metro areas but in reality are one continuous urban area
+1
Level 68
Apr 20, 2023
I'm not sure it's the same San Jose.
+1
Level 53
Feb 25, 2022
ur wrong Caliquiz
+8
Level 83
Oct 20, 2017
Please accept Sankt Peterburg. I had a temporary block and tried a few variations before remembering that it has an English name.
+1
Level 66
Apr 22, 2023
An English name: like EVERYTHING on Jetpunk.
+11
Level 70
Nov 1, 2017
I think the gentleman in the photo was driving a car next to me at the traffic lights this morning.
+1
Level 67
Mar 20, 2021
Best comment on JetPunk. Ever.
+2
Level 38
Jan 13, 2018
sandusky1 cedar point fo eva
+3
Level 89
Jan 21, 2020
I used to know a guy there who made high quality Callahan brake pads. R.I.P.
+3
Level 34
Mar 7, 2018
OMG I love the idea!!! Congrats :)
+4
Level 92
Oct 3, 2018
I spent a good 30 seconds typing in things like Juan, Diego, and Paulo and was getting really frustrated. Can you please allow answers without the San/St/etc?
+5
Level ∞
Oct 3, 2018
Okay
+9
Level 45
Dec 3, 2018
How the hell did I forget Saint Petersburg when I’m literally taking a degree in Russian?! *facepalms*
+9
Level 81
Sep 9, 2019
If it makes you feel better, I am actually Russian and completely forgot about St Petersburg, I was trying to think of South American cities I might have missed.
+7
Level 72
Mar 15, 2020
Would be worse if you were figuratively taking a degree in russian
+4
Level 61
Oct 30, 2020
What Santa Cruz is that?
+7
Level 78
Mar 17, 2021
I assume it's the Santa Cruz (de la Sierra) in Bolivia
+1
Level 68
Apr 20, 2023
Why I google ‘Santa Cruz’ all results are for the ones in California and Tenerife.
+1
Level 62
Apr 20, 2023
Yes, it is Santa Cruz, Bolivia, that has 2+ million people.
+2
Level 21
Mar 20, 2021
7/11
+2
Level 57
Mar 20, 2021
This quiz is one I like! Pls check also ”World Capitals”: Saints, Ports, and Cities”, and be surprised! + give your comments, perhaps nominations:))
+1
Level 55
Mar 21, 2021
What about Bogotá ? Its original name is «Santa Fe de Bogotá».
+2
Level 89
Mar 21, 2021
Santa Fe translates as "Holy Faith" and does not reference a saint.
+6
Level 62
Apr 20, 2023
But Santa Cruz means "holy cross" and San Salvador means "holy savior."

More to the point, plain Bogota is the common name of the city and thus what is generally used by Jetpunk.

+1
Level 60
Mar 23, 2021
Is correct this San Francisco's population? In citypopulation.de is 4,3 million
+1
Level 29
May 12, 2021
Finally, I can comment.
+2
Level 38
Aug 22, 2021
congrats!
+2
Level 38
Aug 22, 2021
It doesn't have enough population but, would Asunción count? It's full name is "Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción"
+2
Level ∞
Mar 1, 2023
There are probably a lot more of these.
+1
Level 55
Apr 21, 2023
Santa María de los Buenos Aires is one of them 😉🇦🇷
+1
Level 78
Apr 20, 2023
That wouldn't count anyway because Santa isn't the first word.
+1
Level 71
Apr 20, 2023
"Santiago de Caracas"
+1
Level 72
Apr 21, 2023
*Santiago de León de Caracas
+4
Level 95
Mar 11, 2022
"Santiago is given so that nobody feels aggrieved" aHahAhahAHhaaHAhha
+3
Level 28
Apr 20, 2023
Technically, Santa Cruz isnt a saint named city, Santa Cruz means Holy Cross.
+4
Level 38
Apr 20, 2023
Saint Paul, MN? I can see why it might not be included as Minneapolis is the larger city in the urban area, but the Twin Cities urban area has about 2.6 million people. Considering that the urban area is often referred to as Minneapolis–Saint Paul, I think it should be accepted as an answer.

Somewhat less convincing of an argument is the inclusion of San Bernardino, CA as well. It is the second largest city in the Inland Empire, often called the Riverside–San Bernardino urban area, home to 1.9 million people.

Also: St. Petersburg, FL – Second largest city in the Tampa Bay metro area (3.1 mil, can't find urban area pop. data)

+2
Level 34
Apr 20, 2023
I have lived my entire life in Minneapolis and I didn't even consider St. Paul as an option until I saw this comment..! XD
+2
Level 69
Apr 20, 2023
Yeah I was thinking St. Paul too
+1
Level 68
Apr 20, 2023
No San Bernadino, or Santa Monica? I was just naming places in Californ.I.A.
+1
Level 66
Apr 22, 2023
There is no city "San Bernadino" in California. San Bernardino, CA is probably counted in with CSA of Los Angeles though.
+1
Level 24
Apr 20, 2023
No Seoul? Seoul has 9.67 million people!
+4
Level 67
Apr 20, 2023
Read the description, mate.