Manuel
God is with us (Hebrew via Spanish)
Manuel is a spanish / biblical boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 40, with 139,191 records. It has 3 syllables.
The May 2021 total includes the name written with JR: 110,364 as Manuel, and 28,827 as Manuel Jr.
Origin and meaning
God is with us (Hebrew via Spanish)
Derived from the Hebrew name Immanuel via Greek and Latin into Iberian Romance languages. In the Philippines, Manuel has been an enduring classic male name since the Spanish colonial era, sustained by presidential namesakes and widespread Catholic tradition.
Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the biblical Hebrew name Immanuel, meaning 'God is with us'. It was heavily popularized in the Iberian Peninsula and widely introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.
Name character
In the Philippines
Commonly shortened to Manny, Manolo, or Noli in Filipino households. It frequently appears as a standalone first name or in compound pairings like Manuel Jose or Juan Manuel.
Related forms
- Manuel Spanish
- Manuel Portuguese
- Immanuel Hebrew
- Emmanuel English
Would your family give Manuel?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Manuel for 2026 yet.
Manuel with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Manuel
How do I use Manuel with two Filipino surnames?
Manuel is the given name. The full name is Manuel + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Manuel a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Manuel is number 40, with 139,191 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.