Total births
1,021
Boys' name · since 1910
Manual
1,021 babies named Manual in U.S. Social Security records since 1910, with the highest year being 1928. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 1,021
- total births
- 1910–2010
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Manual sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 1,021 recorded since 1910.
Social Security Administration records show Manual recorded 1,021 times among boys since 1910, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1910 to 2010.
- 1,021 total births
- 1910–2010 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,021 boys have been named Manual since 1910, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2010.
- 1,021
- total births
- 1910–2010
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Manual was born in this single decade.
1928
Single peak year
23 babies were named Manual in 1928 - its busiest year on record.
Manual's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Manual's SSA record in two at 1957 and the more recent half accounts for 44% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 56%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1910, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1928 peak of 23, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Manual at a glance
Last recorded 2010Peak year
1928
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1910
Manual popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1910–2010
- Peak year (1928)
- 23
- Annual births at peak, across 101 years of records
Manual by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Manual's strongest decade.
177 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Manual births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
113 births
- 1920s
1920s
177 births
- 1930s
1930s
111 births
- 1940s
1940s
97 births
- 1950s
1950s
107 births
- 1960s
1960s
123 births
- 1970s
1970s
111 births
- 1980s
1980s
94 births
- 1990s 54
1990s
54 births
- 2000s 28
2000s
28 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 177 births (17% of all-time use).
How Manual 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 Manual's total volume
Manual vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Manual by state
Where Manual concentrates geographically, total births since 1910
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 21 | 2.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 11 | 1.1% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 6 | 0.6% |
California share of Manual's total US births 2.1%
Even split
21 of 1,021 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Manual? ▼
Manual has been given to 1,021 babies in the U.S. since 1910, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2010. 23 babies were born in 1928, its single highest year.
When was Manual most popular? ▼
Manual was most popular in the 1920s decade with 177 total births. The single peak year was 1928.
Where is Manual most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Manual are California (21 births), Texas (11 births), Alabama (6 births).
How long has the name Manual been used? ▼
Records for Manual go back to 1910, giving 101 years of history through 2010.
What names are similar to Manual? ▼
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 Manual's data
- Manual's decade-level peak was the 1920s (177 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Manuals (21 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 Manual
Nearby Names Like Manual
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Manual
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 Manual side by side: Manual vs Manuel Manual vs Manny Manual vs Manley
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1910–2010 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Manual: Baby Name Since 1910 - 1,021 Births, Peak 1928." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/manual. 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 Manual 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 June 2026.