Laguna Niguel is a city locate in southern Orange County, California. The name "Laguna Niguel" is derived from the Spanish word "Laguna" which means lagoon and the word "Nigueli" which was the name of a Juaneño Indian village once located on Aliso Creek. The population was 61,891 at the 2000 census. The city was primarily built after 1980 as an unincorporated master planned community located in the San Joaquin Hills near Laguna Beach. It borders Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Aliso Viejo.