Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Manuel
BoySpanish, Portuguese· “God is with us”
- Meaning
- God is with us
- Origin
- Spanish, Portuguese
- Pronunciation
- mahn-WEL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #371
- US babies 2025
- 860
- Best rank
- #104 (1906)
- Peak year
- 2005
Meaning and origin of Manuel
Manuel is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “God is with us”.
Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanuel, meaning God is with us. The name appears in the Book of Isaiah and is connected to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. It was borne by Byzantine emperors and by King Manuel I of Portugal, during whose reign Portuguese explorers reached India. Manuel is a classic throughout Spain, Portugal and Latin America. It sounds warm and dignified, and nicknames include Manny, Manolo and Manu.
Popularity over time
Manuel has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #104 in 1906, and the most babies received it in 2005, when 2,665 were named Manuel. In 2025, 860 babies were named Manuel, and it ranked #371 nationally. That is 34% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #118 in 1920, #158 in 1950, #144 in 1980, #159 in 2000, #210 in 2010, and #371 in 2025. Of the 191,584 US boys named Manuel since records began, 13% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 23,444 babies. Since 2010, 19,815 more have been named Manuel.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Fernando, Malachi, Cesar, Hector, and Edgar.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Manuel ranked highest in Arizona, California, and Nebraska.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #169 | 53 |
| California | #199 | 187 |
| Nebraska | #204 | 13 |
| Texas | #217 | 179 |
| New Mexico | #229 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Manuel is usually pronounced mahn-WEL, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-el”.
Middle names for Manuel
A few middle names that flow with Manuel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Manuel
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Lists that include Manuel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Manuel mean?
Manuel is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “God is with us”.
What is the origin of the name Manuel?
Manuel has Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew roots. Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanuel, meaning God is with us.
Is Manuel a popular name?
Yes. Manuel ranked #371 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Manuel a boy or girl name?
Manuel is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Manuel?
Manuel is usually pronounced mahn-WEL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings