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.
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–present. 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