Total births
701
Boys' name · since 1972
Manu
Manu has 701 recorded births since 1972 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2006 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #5299
- among boys today
- 701
- born since 1972
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 63%
- more common than other boys
Manu currently ranks #5299 among boys' names in America, with 701 babies recorded since 1972.
Social Security Administration records show Manu recorded 701 times among boys since 1972, holding rank #5299 nationally today, ahead of 63% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2025.
- #5299 among boys today
- 701 born since 1972
- 2000s peak decade
- 63% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Manu is currently the #5299 boys' name in America, more common than 63% of boys - 701 born since 1972, peaking in the 2000s.
- #5299
- among boys today
- 701
- born since 1972
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 63%
- more common than other boys
Manu vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5299
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 63% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
25% of everyone ever named Manu was born in this single decade.
2006
Single peak year
27 babies were named Manu in 2006 - its busiest year on record.
How Manu compares
701 Top 37% higher than 63% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Manu's all-time total is 91% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Manu | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 701 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 27 | 23 | 22,252 |
Manu's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Manu's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 66% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 34%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1988, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2006 peak of 27, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Manu at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2006
Current rank
#5,299
Active since
1972
Manu popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (2006)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Manu popularity over time - girls
5 total births recorded since 1996 (Manu as girls' name)
Manu by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Manu's strongest decade.
177 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Manu births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 66
1970s
66 births
- 1980s
1980s
86 births
- 1990s
1990s
88 births
- 2000s
2000s
177 births
- 2010s
2010s
160 births
- 2020s
2020s
124 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 177 births (25% of all-time use).
How Manu compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Manu's total volume
Manu vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Manu by state
Where Manu concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 51 | 7.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 5 | 0.7% |
California share of Manu's total US births 7.3%
Even split
51 of 701 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Manu? ▼
Since 1972, Social Security records show 701 babies named Manu. Today it holds rank #5299 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2006, with 27 births.
When was Manu most popular? ▼
Manu was most popular in the 2000s decade with 177 total births. The single peak year was 2006.
Where is Manu most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Manu are California (51 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Manu been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Manu since 1972 -- 54 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Manu? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Manuel, Manny, Manley, Manning, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Manu's data
- Manu's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (177 total births) through the 2020s (124) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Manus (51 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Manu
Nearby Names Like Manu
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Manu
Manuel Boy
#351 191,584 births
Manny Boy
#2679 4,087 births
Manley Boy
2,251 births
Manning Boy
#4711 1,840 births
Manolo Boy
#1987 1,524 births
Compare Manu side by side: Manu vs Manuel Manu vs Manny Manu vs Manley
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Manu
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Manu: #5299 Boys' Name - 701 Births, Peak 2006." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/manu. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Manu draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.