The first name Manuel
A boy’s name from Spanish.
Pronounced /mɑnˈwɛl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Spanish origin
Borrowed from Spanish and Portuguese Manuel, short for Emanuel.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 29 boys were named Manuel, making it the 1,035th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 35 births (#898).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Manuel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Manuel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 860 boys born in the United States were named Manuel, the 371st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2005, when 2,665 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Manual
Famous people named Manuel
241 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Manuel VallsFrench and Spanish politician, born 1962
- Manuel I KomnenosByzantine Emperor, 1118–1180
- Manuel II PalaiologosByzantine emperor (1350-1425)
- Manuel BelgranoArgentine politician and military leader, 1770–1820
- Manuel Ávila Camacho52th President of Mexico, 1897–1955
- Manuel PellegriniChilean association football player and manager, born 1953
- Manuel LanziniArgentine association football player, born 1993
- Manuel Rivera-OrtizAmerican photographer (born 1968)
- José Manuel ImbambaAngolan Roman Catholic archbishop and university teacher, born 1965
- Manuel PuigArgentine writer (1932-1990)
- Manuel AmorosFrench footballer, born 1962
- Manuel ChrysolorasByzantine Greek scholar, diplomat, and professor (c. 1350–1415)
More Spanish boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Manuel mean?
- Borrowed from Spanish and Portuguese Manuel, short for Emanuel.
- What is the origin of the name Manuel?
- Borrowed from Spanish and Portuguese Manuel, short for Emanuel.
- How popular is the name Manuel?
- In 2025, 29 boys born in England and Wales were named Manuel, ranking 1,035th. Its peak was 2024, with 35 births.
- Is Manuel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 192,742 US babies named Manuel since 1880 were boys.
- When was Manuel most popular?
- 2005 in the United States, when 2,665 babies were named Manuel, its highest rank at 153rd.
- How do you pronounce Manuel?
- Manuel is /mɑnˈwɛl/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Manuel?
- Manual.
- Is Manuel also a surname?
- Yes. Manuel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.