UK boy's name
Manu
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "thinker" or "man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Manu is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Manu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 8 births.
This profile covers 90 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 89 living people in the UK are called Manu. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Manu ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 8 boys were registered as Manu.
- • About 89 living people in the UK are estimated to have Manu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
8 births
Estimated living
89
2026
Meaning
What does Manu mean?
The name Manu has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to around the 2nd millennium BCE. In Sanskrit, the word "Manu" means "the forefather of humankind" or "the first man". It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit root "man", which means "to think".
Manu is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology and is mentioned in several ancient texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas. According to Hindu scriptures, Manu was the progenitor of the human race and the first king to rule over the earth after the great flood. He is revered as a lawgiver and the author of the Manusmriti, an ancient legal text that codified the laws and social norms of ancient Indian society.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Manu can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu scriptures, which dates back to around 1500-1200 BCE. The Rigveda mentions Manu as the son of Vivasvat, the sun god, and the father of the human race.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Manu. One of the most famous was Manu Needhi, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 5th century CE. He is credited with writing the Manu Samhita, a treatise on astronomy and astrology.
Another prominent figure with the name Manu was Manu Chao, a French singer-songwriter of Spanish descent, born in 1961. He is known for his fusion of various musical genres, including reggae, ska, and Latin folk.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, there was a figure known as Manu-Hotep, who was believed to be the first king of Egypt and the founder of the city of Memphis. He is often associated with the god Ra and is believed to have lived around 3100 BCE.
Manu Ginobili, an Argentine professional basketball player, born in 1977, is another notable individual with this name. He played for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA and won four NBA championships with the team.
Manu Samoa is the name given to the national rugby union team of Samoa. The name is a nod to the country's cultural heritage and the revered figure of Manu in Polynesian mythology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Manu over time
The chart below shows babies named Manu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Manu, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Manu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Manu 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 | #3604 | 20 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4325 | 22 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3103 | 44 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2357 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Manu
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Manu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Manu in the UK right now?
In 2023, Manu was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Manu most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 8 babies registered as Manu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Manu?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "thinker" or "man".
How many people are called Manu in the UK?
A total of 90 babies have been registered as Manu across the 21 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.