Manu: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,486

among boys · ↑881 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Manu

How common

1 in 74,264

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2006

27 babies

All-time total

706

#6,432 all-time among boys

First recorded

1972

in Social Security records

Manu popularity over time

706 babies have been named Manu since 1972, 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

BoysGirls

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	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	66	66	7	–	#2,860
1980s	–	86	86	9	+30%	#3,046
1990s	5	88	93	9	+8%	#5,077
2000s	–	177	177	18	+90%	#3,741
2010s	–	160	160	16	-10%	#4,562
2020s (to 2025)	–	124	124	21	+29%	#4,185

Where Manu is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	24	0.01	outside top 500
2027	25	0.01	outside top 500
2028	26	0.02	outside top 500
2029	27	0.02	outside top 500
2030	27	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Manu

Manu is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,486 in 2025 with 23 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1972, 706 American babies have been named Manu. Its peak came in 2006, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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 Manu stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Manu?

The median living Manu is about 19 years old; half are between 9 and 32. An estimated 700 people named Manu are alive in the United States today.

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

Manu year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	23	#4,486
2024	–	–	18	#5,367
2023	–	–	20	#4,999
2022	–	–	19	#5,150
2021	–	–	25	#4,185
2020	–	–	19	#4,971
2019	–	–	15	#6,002
2018	–	–	15	#5,951
2017	–	–	17	#5,439
2016	–	–	20	#4,880
2015	–	–	17	#5,435
2014	–	–	12	#6,914
2013	–	–	21	#4,562
2012	–	–	16	#5,633
2011	–	–	11	#7,317
2010	–	–	16	#5,642
2009	–	–	18	#5,234
2008	–	–	11	#7,533
2007	–	–	25	#4,080
2006	–	–	27	#3,741
2005	–	–	19	#4,579
2004	–	–	18	#4,714
2003	–	–	19	#4,368
2002	–	–	12	#5,941
2001	–	–	13	#5,562
2000	–	–	15	#4,958
1995	–	–	7	#7,501
1990	–	–	7	#6,895
1985	–	–	8	#4,996
1980	–	–	15	#3,046
1975	–	–	7	#4,613
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Manu

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

1 Manu Ginóbili Argentine basketball player (born 1977) Contemporary
2 Manu Bennett New Zealand actor (born 1969) Contemporary
3 Manu Chao Spanish musician (born 1961) Contemporary
4 Manu Katché French drummer and songwriter (born 1958) Contemporary
5 Manu Dibango Cameroonian musician and songwriter (1933–2020) Contemporary
6 Manu García Spanish footballer b. 1998 · Contemporary
7 Manu Trigueros Spanish footballer (born 1991) Contemporary
8 Manu del Moral Spanish footballer (born 1984) Contemporary
9 Manu García Spanish footballer b. 1986 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Manu?

The median living Manu is about 19 years old. Half of all living Manus are between 9 and 32 years old.

How many people named Manu are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Manu are alive in the United States, based on 706 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Manu mean?

Manu is a given name which may be derived from Manuel, or an unrelated name of Hindu origin.

How popular is the name Manu in 2025?

Manu ranked #4,486 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 23 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Manu?

706 babies have been named Manu in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Manu most popular?

Manu peaked in 2006, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Manu a boy or girl name?

Manu is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Manu rising or falling?

Manu is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Will Manu become more popular?

Manu is trending upward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 27 boys named Manu in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Manu?

Well-known people named Manu include Manu Ginóbili (basketball player), Manu Bennett (actor), Manu Chao (singer).

Names like Manu

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

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