Manuel

Popular among Hispanic communities but also used internationally, Manuel is a name with a regal history.

In use since the 13th century, Manuel was likely brought to Spain and Portugal from the Byzantine Empire thanks to connections between their royal families. Borne by two Byzantine emperors and two Portuguese kings, Manuel has been used fairly consistently throughout history and into the present.

In the US, Manuel has been a staple feature in the Top 1000 since the data began to be collected in the late 19th century. Until recently, this Spanish variant had always outranked its English counterpart, but since the mid 2000s, Manuel has been in decline while Emmanuel has been on the rise.

Still in the Top 500, but at its lowest ever rank, Manuel is currently given to around 1000 boys each year in the States.

Across the globe, Manuel has fared better. It remains well used in Spain, Portugal and Italy, across South America, and in The Netherlands and Germany too.

Manny and Manu are popular nickname options, with Manu gaining traction as a stand-alone choice in The Netherlands.