Emmanuel Name Meaning and Origin

Derived from Hebrew origin, Emmanuel is a name for boys and means “God is with us.” Whether spelled with one or two ‘m’s, Emmanuel was popular among early Jewish immigrants until the nickname Manny drew more attention. However, this Biblical name has now gotten back its much-deserved glory, mainly due to celebrities choosing Emmanuel Jean, Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders, (Alexis) Emmanuel Chabrier, and Emmanuel Lewis. According to the prophecy of Isaiah, Emmanuel was given to the promised Messiah.

What Does Emmanuel Mean? 

Emmanuel comes from the Hebrew name Immanuel, which consists of the roots ‘im,’ meaning with, and ‘el,’ meaning God. While ‘immanu’ means “with us,” which makes this name reinstate our faith in the Almighty. Hence, the meaning of Emmanuel resonates with the beautiful attribute that always keeps you hopeful of the divine blessing in the form of a child in your life.

Origin 

Emmanuel originates as Immanuel, a name for Jesus mentioned in the New Testament. His coming is, however, prophesied in the Old Testament. Bible’s King James Version mentions the spelling Emmanuel. Whereas Amanuel is more frequently found in Ethiopia. The 2005 documentary “Emmanuel’s Gift” chronicles the life of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a disabled man in Ghana. As Emmanuel was an alternative to the name Jesus, the people of English origin considered bestowing Emmanuel upon their sons to be an offensive display of immodesty or dishonor to the Lord. However, other people of European descent did not share this taboo, and the name began to be used for centuries in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Commonly used in the Middle Ages by both Christians and Jew communities, Emmanuel has evolved in various forms. It is a royal first name Emanuele in Italy, Imanol in Basque, Manuel in Portuguese and Spanish, Emmanouil in Greek, and French female variation, Emmanuelle.

Gender 

Male

Pronunciation 

• Ee-man-yu-el
• E-mma-nyu-el

Syllables 

4 Syllables

Length/Letter 

8 Letters

Name Variations/Spellings 

The other spellings for Emmanuel offer a wide variety of choices to parents to pick the right name that has originated from different regions due to migration and cultural influences. Here are some Emmanuel name variations that might suit a variety of personalities:

How Popular Is the Name Emmanuel? 

Emmanuel has been used in England since the 16th century and is common in Spain and Portugal. It has been accepted more with its modern alternative spelling than its older version. Emmanuel entered the US popularity charts in the late 1940s and has steadily increased since the 1960s. Despite fluctuating up and down, the Emmanuel popularity index has maintained its position in the top 200 since 2000, according to Social Security Administration data. The Emmanuel baby name ranking stands at number 150 for the first time in 2020. It is a name of a renowned Mexican singer who rose to fame in the 1970s. It belonged to twelve different royal leaders, a famous philosopher named Immanuel Kant and a professional boxer named Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who immensely contributed to the popularity of the name.

Interest in Emmanuel – Worldwide

Emmanuel shows a consistent value of over 20 over the last ten years, reaching 100 in May 2017 as per the search trends. The lowest score was 27 in July 2019 on the popularity scale.

Interest in Emmanuel – US

Search trend in the US reached its peak up to 100 in May 2017. The lowest record value was 36 in June 2018 on the popularity scale.

Popularity of the name Emmanuel 

URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi

Where Is the Name Most Searched?

Search trends of Emmanuel Worldwide

As per the global trends, Emmanuel has been searched the most in Rwanda, followed by Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasha, Zambia, and Martinique in the last ten years. As Christianity is the largest religion in Rwanda, a Biblical name like Emmanuel has attained maximum popularity there.

Search trends of Emmanuel in the US

Among the metro cities in the US, Massachusetts has recorded the highest search value of 100 in the last ten years. Rhode Island, District Of Columbia, Maryland, and New Hampshire have made it to the top 5 positions in the US, where search trends for Emmanuel have been recorded as the highest.

Middle Names That Go With Emmanuel 

Pretty, cute, or short, middle names have a unique appeal that honors family members or celebrates your heritage. Here are some double names with Emmanuel that pair perfectly with the first name:

Famous People Named Emmanuel 

Famous people called Emmanuel have inspired new-age parents to choose this name despite its vintage appeal. Here are some fascinating options that may make your child famous wherever they go:

Similar Names & Last Names 

Baby names like Emmanuel have a special appeal, especially to those who love classic names. Emmanuel’s family names help create a distinct social identity for a child. Here are some other names for Emmanuel that may convey a similar feel with different meanings:

Names That Sound Like Emmanuel 

Rhyming names for Emmanuel follow a rhythmic connection with creative wordplay. Here are some names that rhyme with Emmanuel to well co-ordinate with its traditional style:

Sibling Names Related to Emmanuel 

Sibling names that go with Emmanuel help to strengthen the bond between them. Here is a list of suitable sister names for Emmanuel and suitable brother names for Emmanuel that should feel cohesive but not interchangeable among siblings:

Nicknames for Emmanuel 

Nicknames are a fruit of the creative imagination of most parents or loving family members to complement a child’s personality. Here are some of the wackiest and adorable nicknames that may describe your child’s mannerisms well:

Cool-sounding names that begin with vowels are back on trend for both genders. “Emmanuel” points to the biblical theme of God’s presence with His people, and its meaning is the embodiment of all of God’s promises to Israel and to all who will trust in Him. This timeless name features numerous Christian hymns and is still considered a worthy contender for baby boys. Emmanuels are mostly cheerful, full of self-expression, and quite emotional. Hence, Emmanuel will always make a mark and emerge successful with their charismatic personality irrespective of age.

Sources/References

Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Emmanuel Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&geo=US&q=Emmanuel
Emmanuel Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&q=Emmanuel
Emmanuel Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&geo=US&q=Emmanuel
Emmanuel Name Interest Across the World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&q=Emmanuel