Manuel
Meaning of Manuel
Manuel is the sun-kissed Iberian cousin of the biblical Emmanuel, its Hebrew roots softly declaring “God is with us.” From the guitar-serenaded plazas of Seville to the tile-clad hills of Lisbon, it rolls off the tongue as mahn-WEHL or mahn-WELL—smooth, lilting, and unmistakably Latin. History has etched it on saints’ halos, royal decrees, and concert programs alike: Manuel I of Portugal steered ships toward new worlds, while composer Manuel de Falla painted Andalusian sunsets in sound. Even television slipped in a wink through the lovable waiter of Fawlty Towers, proving the name can bow gravely one moment and crack a smile the next. In the United States, Manuel has charted a steady course—rarely drifting far from the Top 300 for over a century—suggesting endurance rather than flash. Pair that reliability with friendly nicknames like Manny or Manu, and parents receive a name that feels at once time-honored, approachable, and quietly wrapped in the promise of divine companionship.
Pronunciation
German
- Pronunced as mah-NOO-el (/maˈnu̯eːl/)
French
- Pronunced as mah-NWEL (/ma.nwɛl/)
Portuguese
- Pronunced as mahn-WEHL (/mɑnˈwɛl/)
Spanish
- Pronunced as mahn-WELL (/mɑnˈwɛl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Manuel
| Manuel Tinio y Bundoc, the youngest general of the Philippine Revolutionary Army, became Nueva Ecija governor in 1907 and is honored as one of the three Fathers of the Cry of Nueva Ecija alongside Pantaleon Valmonte and Mariano Llanera. |
| Manuel Belgrano was an Argentine statesman and general, a Founding Father who helped win independence, created the flag of Argentina, and advocated free trade. |
| Manuel Roxas was a Filipino lawyer and statesman who briefly led the Commonwealth in 1946 and then became the first president of the independent Third Republic, serving until his death in 1948. |
| Manuel L Quezon was the second president of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944, the first Filipino to lead the entire nation, and the namesake of Quezon City and Quezon Province. |
| Manuel Arturo Merino de Lama is a Peruvian politician who briefly served as president in November 2020, was President of Congress in 2020, and held multiple congressional terms representing Tumbes. |
| Manuel II Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor from 1391 to 1425, sought Western help against the Ottomans, traveled to plead his cause, became a monk named Matthaios before his death, and is commemorated on July 21. |
| Manuel de Arriaga was a Portuguese lawyer and statesman who became the first president of Portugal from 1911 to 1915 and the first attorney general after the 1910 revolution. |
| Manuel Azaña Díaz was a Spanish statesman, organizer of the Popular Front, Prime Minister, and the last President of the Second Spanish Republic, leading the Republican cause during the Civil War. |
| Manuel Amador Guerrero was the first president of Panama, serving from February 20, 1904 to October 1, 1908, and was a member of the Conservative Party. |
| Manuel Alvarez Bravo was a pioneering Mexican photographer known for surreal images of everyday life and a leading figure in 20th century Latin American photography. |
| Manuel de Falla was a Spanish composer and pianist, a leading figure of early 20th century music and often regarded as Spain's greatest despite his modest output. |
| Manuel I of Portugal - Manuel I, the Fortunate, ruled Portugal from 1495 to 1521, backed Vasco da Gama on the voyage to India, and drove imperial expansion across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. |
| Manuel Avila Camacho, president of Mexico from 1940 to 1946, was the Gentleman President who promoted unity, advanced civilian rule, eased church tensions, and renewed US ties during World War II. |
| Manuel Uribe Garza was a Mexican man once among the heaviest people on record who lost significant weight with medical help but died in his hometown in 2014. |
