Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1922

Manly

Meaning Manly is both a surname and a given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Manly is both a surname and a given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Manly
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1922
24 babies
All-time total
521
#7,708 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Manly popularity over time

521 babies have been named Manly since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1881Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 10 1 – #961
1890s 10 1 0% #1,188
1900s – – – –
1910s 92 9 – #1,751
1920s 153 15 +66% #1,571
1930s 97 10 -37% #2,156
1940s 89 9 -8% #1,721
1950s 38 4 -57% #3,013
1960s 11 1 -71% #3,975
1970s 6 1 -45% #4,867
1980s 5 1 -17% #6,898
1990s 5 1 0% #8,988
2000s 5 1 0% #11,512
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Manly

Manly is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 521 American babies have been named Manly. Its peak came in 1922, when 24 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Manly stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Manly?

The median living Manly is about 76 years old; half are between 59 and 83. An estimated 100 people named Manly are alive in the United States today.

median 76 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Manly year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 5 #11,512
1995 – –
1990 5 #8,988
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 17 #1,721
1935 12 #2,201
1930 12 #2,396
1925 17 #1,980
1920 22 #1,670
1915 17 #1,751
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 5 #1,191
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 5 #1,009

Famous people named Manly

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Manly P. Hall Manly P. Hall Canadian-American philosopher and writer (1901–1990) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Manly, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Manly?

The median living Manly is about 76 years old. Half of all living Manlys are between 59 and 83 years old.

How many people named Manly are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Manly are alive in the United States, based on 521 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Manly mean?

Manly is both a surname and a given name.

How popular is the name Manly in 2025?

Manly did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Manly?

521 babies have been named Manly in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Manly most popular?

Manly peaked in 1922, when 24 newborns received the name.

Is Manly a boy or girl name?

Manly is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Manly rising or falling?

Manly has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Manly?

Well-known people named Manly include Manly P. Hall (occultist).

Names like Manly

Names that sound and feel close to Manly: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Manly with similar names → More names starting with M →