Emmanuel
Boy name · #179 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Emmanuel? In official American birth records, Emmanuel has been tracked continuously since 1898, giving it 127 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 2,035 baby boys were named Emmanuel, placing it at #179 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #151, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 885 boys born in 2025 was named Emmanuel.
Babies named Emmanuel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 127-year story
Emmanuel first appears in the Social Security records in 1898, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 2,862 boys were named Emmanuel — good for #145 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Emmanuel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Emmanuel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Emmanuel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Emmanuel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Emmanuel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Emmanuel is most common in AZ (2.2 per 1,000), TX (2 per 1,000), CA (1.9 per 1,000), FL (1.8 per 1,000), MA (1.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Emmanuel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Emmanuel
Emmanuel carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Emmanuel family went to about 2,932 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #124, versus #179 for Emmanuel alone.
Names like Emmanuel
Statistically, parents drawn to Emmanuel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Emanuel, Miguel, Israel, Rafael, and Nathaniel.
EmanuelMiguelIsraelRafaelNathanielMaxwellManuelEzequiel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Emmanuel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,035 | #179 |
| 2024 | 2,054 | #181 |
| 2023 | 2,107 | #173 |
| 2022 | 2,220 | #169 |
| 2021 | 1,985 | #191 |
| 2020 | 2,462 | #151 |
| 2019 | 2,423 | #164 |
| 2018 | 2,424 | #159 |
| 2017 | 2,520 | #155 |
| 2016 | 2,571 | #158 |
| 2015 | 2,749 | #151 |
| 2014 | 2,568 | #165 |
| 2013 | 2,401 | #171 |
| 2012 | 2,351 | #165 |
| 2011 | 2,676 | #147 |
| 2010 | 2,554 | #153 |
| 2009 | 2,738 | #144 |
| 2008 | 2,862 | #145 |
| 2007 | 2,711 | #154 |
| 2006 | 2,487 | #166 |
| 2005 | 2,575 | #159 |
| 2004 | 2,347 | #174 |
| 2003 | 2,131 | #182 |
| 2002 | 2,032 | #184 |
| 2001 | 1,856 | #198 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Emmanuel?
In official American birth records, the name Emmanuel first appeared in 1898 (over 127 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Emmanuel a popular boy name?
Emmanuel ranked #179 among boys in 2025 with 2,035 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #151.
When was the name Emmanuel most popular?
Emmanuel peaked in 2008, when 2,862 American boys received the name (ranked #145 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Emmanuel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 885 newborn American boys was named Emmanuel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.