Manuel

Manuel is a male given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Immanuel meaning “God with us.” The form Manuel is common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities, and has been used in various other cultures through borrowing and adaptation. It is occasionally used as a surname. The name has long-standing religious and historical associations in Christian Europe and the Americas.

Variants include Emmanuel and Immanuel in various languages; in English-speaking contexts Manuel may be shortened to Manny. In the Iberian and Philippine contexts, Manuel is a full given name. The name has widespread usage in Latin America and among diasporas, and has produced diverse cultural figures in politics, sports, literature and religion.

Notable individuals named Manuel include Manuel Belgrano, an Argentine lawyer and revolutionary who helped shape Argentina's independence; Manuel Noriega, a Panamanian military officer who controlled the country in the 1980s; Manuel Puig, an Argentine novelist and screenwriter; Manuel Neuer, a German football goalkeeper; Manuel Valls, a French politician who served as prime minister; Manuel Zelaya, a Honduran former president; Manuel II of Portugal, the last king of Portugal.