Rising since 1987, #5,238 for girls today.
Popularity of Mana since 1917
Babies named Mana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 8 | 0 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
| 1930s | 5 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 12 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 13 | 0 |
| 1980s | 54 | 0 |
| 1990s | 87 | 0 |
| 2000s | 173 | 11 |
| 2010s | 232 | 70 |
| 2020s | 114 | 53 |
Meaning & origin
Mana is a name with dual heritage: a Polynesian term for spiritual power and a Japanese name with varied kanji meanings. In the U.S., its use has been slowly rising since 1987, with a peak rank of 5,238 in 2025 (1 in 66,969 births). The name first appeared in Social Security records in 1917, but it has never been common. California accounts for the most bearers, reflecting its appeal along the West Coast. Mana's trajectory suggests growing but still scarce adoption, likely influenced by cultural interest in Hawaiian and Japanese names.
Mana appears in two distinct cultural traditions. In Polynesian mythology, mana refers to a supernatural force or spiritual power inherent in people, objects, and nature. As a given name, it is rare but used in Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Separately, Mana is a Japanese name that can be written with various kanji combinations, such as 愛 (love) and 菜 (greens), yielding meanings like 'love and vegetables.' Its use in the English-speaking world is modern and likely influenced by both traditions, though it remains uncommon.
Where Mana is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mana” around the world
Where Mana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
New Zealand
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Sibling names for Mana
Names that share Mana's style, for a brother or sister.
