UK boy's name
Manus
A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "hand".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Manus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Manus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2001 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 76 living people in the UK are called Manus. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Manus ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 boys were registered as Manus.
- • Manus ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #318 in 2017.
- • About 76 living people in the UK are estimated to have Manus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
4 births
Estimated living
76
2026
Meaning
What does Manus mean?
The name Manus originates from Latin and has its roots in the ancient Roman culture. It is derived from the Latin word "manus," which means "hand." The name likely emerged during the Classical Roman period, spanning from the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD.
Manus was a relatively uncommon name in ancient Rome, but it held significance as a symbolic representation of strength, skill, and craftsmanship. The hand was revered in Roman culture as a symbol of human ingenuity and the ability to create and shape the world around them.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Manus can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a Roman soldier named Manus Curius Dentatus. Dentatus lived during the 3rd century BC and was renowned for his military prowess and humble lifestyle.
In the realm of religion, the name Manus is associated with Saint Manus, an Irish monk who lived in the 6th century AD. He is venerated as the founder of the monastery of Lemanaghan in County Offaly, Ireland, and is celebrated on August 24th in the Catholic Church.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Manus. One of the most famous was Manus O'Donnell (c. 1532-1563), an Irish chieftain and lord of Tyrconnell, a territory in present-day County Donegal. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Irish and English during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
Another influential figure was Manus O'Cahan (c. 1540-1626), an Irish nobleman and lord of Oireacht-Ui-Chathain, a territory in modern-day County Derry. He was a prominent leader during the Nine Years' War, a prolonged conflict between the Irish chieftains and the English forces.
In the literary world, Manus O'Donnell (1837-1918) was an Irish writer and historian from County Donegal. He authored several books on Irish history and folklore, including "Life and Writings of St. Columba" and "The Annals of the Four Masters."
Manus Midlarsky (1919-2008) was a prominent American political scientist and scholar of international relations. He served as a professor at Rutgers University and made significant contributions to the study of conflict and conflict resolution.
These examples demonstrate the historical significance and enduring presence of the name Manus across various cultures and eras, from ancient Rome to modern times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Manus over time
The chart below shows babies named Manus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Manus, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Manus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Manus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3845 | 13 | 4 |
Geography
Where Manus is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Manus. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Manus ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #318 in 2017.
Across the UK
Manus in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#703 in 2022
5 years of NRS records, 17 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#318 in 2017
11 years of NISRA records, 44 total registered
Related
Names similar to Manus
- 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
Manus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Manus in the UK right now?
In 2012, Manus was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Manus most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Manus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Manus?
A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "hand".
How many people are called Manus in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Manus across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland and 44 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Manus most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Manus ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #318 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.