NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Manav

A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "human being" or "man".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Manav is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Manav popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2443, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 24 births.

This profile covers 343 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 340 living people in the UK are called Manav. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Manav ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 24 boys were registered as Manav.
  • About 340 living people in the UK are estimated to have Manav as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2443

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

2003

24 births

Estimated living

340

2026

Meaning

What does Manav mean?

The name Manav originated from the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the word "manava," which means "human being" or "man." This name has its roots in the ancient Indian culture and can be traced back to the Vedic period, around 1500 BCE.

The name Manav has been mentioned in various Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Upanishads and the Puranas. In these ancient texts, the word "manava" is used to refer to the human race or mankind in general, as well as to specific individuals or characters.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Manav can be found in the Mahabharata, the ancient Indian epic poem. The character Manav, also known as Manu, is depicted as the progenitor of the human race and the first man created by the Hindu god Brahma.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Manav. One of the most famous was Manav Dharma Sutra, an ancient Indian scholar and lawgiver who lived around the 1st century BCE. He is known for his work on Hindu law and ethics, which formed the basis of the Dharma Shastras.

Another notable bearer of the name was Manav Gangadhar Tilak, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 16th century CE. He is credited with developing a method for calculating the values of sine and cosine tables, as well as contributing to the field of astronomy.

In the modern era, Manav Sawhney was an Indian businessman and entrepreneur who founded the successful IT services company, Infosys, in 1981. He served as the company's CEO until 2014 and played a significant role in the growth of the Indian IT industry.

Manav Gohil was an Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was a left-arm spinner and was known for his economical bowling during his international career.

Manav Kaul is a contemporary Indian actor and director who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. He is also known for his work in independent and art-house cinema, and has received critical acclaim for his performances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Manav over time

The chart below shows babies named Manav registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Manav, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Manav
06121824199620102024

Decades

Manav by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Manav was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2667 41 5
2010s #2048 122 10
2000s #1167 172 10
1990s #2391 8 2

Related

Names similar to Manav

FAQ

Manav: questions and answers

How popular is the name Manav in the UK right now?

In 2024, Manav was ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Manav most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 24 babies registered as Manav in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Manav?

A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "human being" or "man".

How many people are called Manav in the UK?

A total of 343 babies have been registered as Manav across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.