Emanuel
Emanuel was the 574th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 513 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 211th; the most babies were born in 2007 (1,386). Over the last ten years it has moved down 226 places. More babies were named Emanuel in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Emmanuel) God is with us · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #574 boys, down 164 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 513boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20071,386 babies
- Total since 1880
- 54,855babies recorded
What does the name Emanuel mean?
Emanuel is a spelling of Emmanuel, pronounced the same way, so it shares Emmanuel's meaning and origin.
Emmanuel comes from the Hebrew Immanuel, 'God is with us', made from im, 'with', anu, 'us', and El, 'God'. In Isaiah 7:14 it is the name given to a child as a sign, and the Gospel of Matthew applies it to Jesus, which is why DMNES calls it a biblical epithet of Jesus. DMNES also lists Byzantine emperors and a 16th-century king of Portugal named Manuel or Emmanuel. Manuel is the Spanish and Portuguese short form.
עִמָּנוּאֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “Immanuel, God is with us”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Immanuel, Manuel, Emanuel, Manny, Emmanuelle.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Emmanuel', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 7:14, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Emmanuel', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Emanuel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 99 since 1965.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #574 | 513 |
| 2020 | #410 | 723 |
| 2010 | #281 | 1,196 |
| 2000 | #329 | 863 |
| 1990 | #370 | 629 |
| 1980 | #451 | 343 |
| 1970 | #528 | 235 |
| 1960 | #549 | 205 |
| 1950 | #446 | 222 |
| 1940 | #428 | 186 |
| 1930 | #360 | 255 |
| 1920 | #288 | 381 |
| 1910 | #236 | 99 |
| 1900 | #317 | 45 |
| 1890 | #305 | 32 |
| 1880 | #211 | 57 |
How popular is Emanuel, counting every spelling?
Emanuel is a spelling of Emmanuel, a name family that ranked #151 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #574 for Emanuel on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,548 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel | 2,035 | #179 | 10,401 |
| Emanuel | 513 | #574 | 3,003 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Emanuel?
513 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Emanuel (0.14 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Emanuel born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 16 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Emanuel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Emanuel?
About 42,400 people born in the US named Emanuel are alive today, with a median age of 23; half are between 14 and 37. That makes Emanuel mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Emanuel by state
How common Emanuel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (2.2×), Maryland (1.6×), Pennsylvania (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Emanuel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Emanuel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Emanuel
What does Emanuel mean?
Emanuel is a spelling of Emmanuel, which means “God is with us” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Emanuel?
Emanuel was the 574th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 513 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 211th; the most babies were born in 2007 (1,386). Over the last ten years it has moved down 226 places. More babies were named Emanuel in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Emanuel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Emanuel in the US.
Where is Emanuel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Emanuel was most common in Massachusetts (0.76 per 1,000 boys), followed by Maryland and Pennsylvania.