How to say it
man · UEL
mænˈwɛl
Masculine
Manuel
God is with us
What it means
The Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanu'el, 'God is with us.'
Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanu'el, 'God is with us,' a title given to the promised Messiah. It was royal in both Spain and Portugal and is one of the bedrock names across the Spanish-speaking world. It shortens affectionately to Manny or the Spanish Manolo. Said man-WEL.
How to spell Manuel
The standard spelling is Manuel. Common variants include Emmanuel, Manoel, Manolo, but Manuel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #104 in 1906, currently #371 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Manny and Manolo are the everyday shorts.
- Worth knowing
A bedrock name across Latino communities; the short form of Emmanuel.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Manuel I King of Portugal during its Age of Discovery
- Manuel de Falla Spanish composer
Spelling variants
- Emmanuel
- Manoel
- Manolo
Names with the same feeling
See Manuel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Manuel mean?
- The Spanish and Portuguese short form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanu'el, 'God is with us.'
- What does Manuel mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Manuel means "God is with us." Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Emmanuel, from the Hebrew Immanu'el, 'God is with us,' a title given to the promised Messiah. It was royal in both Spain and Portugal and is one of the bedrock names across the Spanish-speaking world. It shortens affectionately to Manny or the Spanish Manolo. Said man-WEL.
- Is Manuel short for Emmanuel?
- Yes. Manuel is a short form of Emmanuel, and it carries the same meaning, "God is with us." These days many parents use Manuel as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Manuel?
- Manuel is pronounced mænˈwɛl. Say it as man-UEL, with the stress on the "uel" syllable.
- How do you spell Manuel?
- The standard spelling is Manuel. Common spelling variants include Emmanuel, Manoel, Manolo.
- Is Manuel a boy or girl name?
- Manuel is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Manuel?
- Manuel ranked #371 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.