The commune was originally called Grand-Santi-Papaichton and included the now independent communes of Apatou and Papaichton. On November 12, 1976 Apatou was detached from Grand-Santi-Papaichton and became an independent commune. On January 1, 1993 Papaichton was also detached from Grand-Saint-Papaichton and became an independent commune. On that occasion, the name of the commune was shortened into Grand-Santi.