Manuel
Boy name · #371 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
In 2025, 860 baby boys were named Manuel, placing it at #371 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #283, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,093 boys born in 2025 was named Manuel.
Babies named Manuel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Manuel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 75 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 2,665 boys were named Manuel — good for #153 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 Manuel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Manuel in class?
Manuel scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Manuel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Manuel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Manuels were CA (187), TX (179), FL (60), AZ (53), GA (27). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Manuel
Statistically, parents drawn to Manuel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Miguel, Emanuel, Rafael, Marco, and Israel.
MiguelEmanuelRafaelMarcoIsraelHectorMarcosEmmanuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Manuel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 860 | #371 |
| 2024 | 958 | #351 |
| 2023 | 1,009 | #332 |
| 2022 | 1,065 | #316 |
| 2021 | 1,036 | #321 |
| 2020 | 1,018 | #323 |
| 2019 | 1,147 | #298 |
| 2018 | 1,219 | #289 |
| 2017 | 1,327 | #274 |
| 2016 | 1,301 | #280 |
| 2015 | 1,297 | #283 |
| 2014 | 1,382 | #265 |
| 2013 | 1,472 | #246 |
| 2012 | 1,464 | #249 |
| 2011 | 1,559 | #231 |
| 2010 | 1,701 | #210 |
| 2009 | 1,954 | #195 |
| 2008 | 2,143 | #187 |
| 2007 | 2,413 | #169 |
| 2006 | 2,546 | #165 |
| 2005 | 2,665 | #153 |
| 2004 | 2,410 | #168 |
| 2003 | 2,248 | #174 |
| 2002 | 2,326 | #165 |
| 2001 | 2,312 | #164 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Manuel a popular boy name?
Manuel ranked #371 among boys in 2025 with 860 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #283.
When was the name Manuel most popular?
Manuel peaked in 2005, when 2,665 American boys received the name (ranked #153 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Manuel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,093 newborn American boys was named Manuel. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.