Boy name · Hebrew
Manuel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: God with usManuel is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "God with us". It is used in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
- Meaning
- God with us
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #371 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Manuel
As a boy's name, Manuel comes from Hebrew and means "God with us". It is used in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
In Italian, say mah-noo-EL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Manuel is also a surname: the 1,288th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 26,670 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Manuel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Manuel on 2 lists.
“God with us; Hebrew, via Spanish. Say mah-noo-EL”
From Italian boy names, popular Italian boy names right now
“God with us; Hebrew. Top boy name in Andalusia in 2024 (INE)”
From Spanish boy names, popular Spanish boy names in Spain (INE 2024)
How popular is Manuel?
- US rank in 2025
- #371
- 860 babies, 503 per million boys
- Best rank
- #104 in 1906
- Most babies: 2,665 in 2005
- Babies since 1880
- At least 191,584
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 732 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 834 per million |
| 1900s | 1,290 per million |
| 1910s | 1,254 per million |
| 1920s | 1,421 per million |
| 1930s | 1,167 per million |
| 1940s | 953 per million |
| 1950s | 810 per million |
| 1960s | 832 per million |
| 1970s | 1,071 per million |
| 1980s | 1,083 per million |
| 1990s | 1,241 per million |
| 2000s | 1,175 per million |
| 2010s | 738 per million |
| 2020s | 574 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #280 | #274 | #290 | #298 | #323 | #321 | #316 | #333 | #351 | #371 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Manuel
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Manolotraditional short form (Spanish)
Other forms of Manuel
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Manuel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ManoelGod is with us (Hebrew, boy)
- MarcelLittle Marcus, of Mars (Latin, boy)
- MiguelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MaëlPrince, chief (Breton, boy)
- MendelComforter, pet form of Menachem (Yiddish, boy)
Middle names for Manuel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
Manuel: common questions
What does the name Manuel mean?
Manuel comes from Hebrew and means "God with us".
Is Manuel a boy or girl name?
Manuel is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Manuel?
Common nicknames for Manuel include Manolo.
How popular is the name Manuel?
Manuel ranked #371 in the US in 2025, with 860 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Manuel?
Forms of Manuel with the same meaning and origin include Emanuel (Spanish), Emanuele (Italian), Emmanouil (Greek), Emmanuel (English) and Immanuel (German).
What middle names go with Manuel?
Middle names that flow well with Manuel include Finn, Glenn, Heath, Knox and Lamar. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.