The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 9 births ranking #9276. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Manuel is a long-established form of Emmanuel and carries the comforting meaning God is with us. It is warm, classic, and widely used across several language traditions.
The name spread through Christian naming traditions and became especially familiar in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. Its long life has given it both religious depth and everyday ease.