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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 taken57,009
Average score54.5%
Rating4.26
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
+18
Level 82
Jan 18, 2015
What? San Dimas is not on here? But San Dimas High School Football RULES!!
+11
Level 84
Jan 30, 2015
You get an A on your history report.
+1
Level 46
Mar 20, 2021
Bill and Ted would agree!
+5
Level 75
Jan 24, 2015
What about Sana'a? Perhaps in brackets like Santiago? Almost 2 million according to wikipedia
+5
Level 84
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.
+12
Level 67
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.
+8
Level 84
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 84
May 1, 2019
and I think the name of the quiz was changed yet again.
+11
Level 59
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.
+5
Level 84
Dec 3, 2018
If we were all using common sense then the original argument wouldn't have taken place.
+5
Level 66
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)
+4
Level 66
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 66
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 62
Jul 6, 2016
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. (pop. 2,596,000 as in 2010)
+6
Level 76
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 91
Jul 9, 2016
Santiago, Chile. approx 5.1mm, means Saint James
+3
Level 84
Aug 3, 2016
Arrived in St Petersburg yesterday. Gorgeous city.
+3
Level 64
Feb 23, 2017
I'm pretty sure "santa" means holy...
+9
Level 84
May 17, 2018
What do you think "saint" means?
+4
Level 84
May 17, 2018
There's a clue about the etymology if you look at the Russian spelling of Sankt Peterburg.
+2
Level 58
May 6, 2017
st Augustine (fl)

st paul de vence (france)

+2
Level 12
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.
+4
Level 88
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 76
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.
+7
Level 72
Oct 30, 2020
I'm guessing the San Jose mentioned here is the one in Costa Rica?
+1
Level 57
Mar 20, 2021
No, the one in Northern California by Sacramento and San Francisco. San Jose, Costa Rica isn't nearly as populated.
+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 55
Feb 25, 2022
ur wrong Caliquiz
+7
Level 81
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.
+8
Level 71
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 57
Mar 20, 2021
Best comment on JetPunk. Ever.
+2
Level 39
Jan 13, 2018
sandusky1 cedar point fo eva
+3
Level 87
Jan 21, 2020
I used to know a guy there who made high quality Callahan brake pads. R.I.P.
+3
Level 35
Mar 7, 2018
OMG I love the idea!!! Congrats :)
+3
Level 90
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?
+3
Level ∞
Oct 3, 2018
Okay
+6
Level 44
Dec 3, 2018
How the hell did I forget Saint Petersburg when I’m literally taking a degree in Russian?! *facepalms*
+6
Level 76
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.
+5
Level 66
Mar 15, 2020
Would be worse if you were figuratively taking a degree in russian
+4
Level 59
Oct 30, 2020
What Santa Cruz is that?
+7
Level 76
Mar 17, 2021
I assume it's the Santa Cruz (de la Sierra) in Bolivia
+2
Level 20
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 47
Mar 21, 2021
What about Bogotá ? Its original name is «Santa Fe de Bogotá».
+1
Level 87
Mar 21, 2021
Santa Fe translates as "Holy Faith" and does not reference a saint.
+1
Level 58
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.
+1
Level 39
Aug 22, 2021
congrats!
+1
Level 39
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"
+1
Level ∞
Mar 1, 2023
There are probably a lot more of these.
+3
Level 92
Mar 11, 2022
"Santiago is given so that nobody feels aggrieved" aHahAhahAHhaaHAhha