ðə nˈeɪm, "də lˌɑːs kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊz", ɹᵻfˈɜːz tʊ ɐ lˈoʊkəl ˈɛθnɪk ɡɹˈuːp, ðə tsækˈɪlə, ænd ðə kˈʌstəm ʌv mˈɛn ɪn ðæt tɹˈaɪb tə dˈaɪ ðɛɹ hˈɛɹ wɪð ˈɛkstɹækt ʌvðɪ ɐtʃɪˈoʊt plˈænt; hˈɛns "sˈæntoʊ dəmˈɪnɪɡˌoʊ də lˌɑːs kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊz" ɔːɹ "sˈæntoʊ doʊmˈɪŋɡoʊ ʌvðə dˈaɪd."
The name, "de los Colorados", refers to a local ethnic group, the Tsáchila, and the custom of men in that tribe to dye their hair with extract of the achiote plant; hence "Santo Dominigo de los Colorados" or "Santo Domingo of the Dyed."