Declining since 2014, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Manning since 1881
Babies named Manning per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Manning's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 39 |
| 1890s | 16 |
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 200 |
| 1920s | 207 |
| 1930s | 153 |
| 1940s | 143 |
| 1950s | 112 |
| 1960s | 91 |
| 1970s | 68 |
| 1980s | 47 |
| 1990s | 79 |
| 2000s | 233 |
| 2010s | 310 |
| 2020s | 120 |
Meaning & origin
Manning is a surname-turned-given name with deep roots in Old English, meaning 'son of Mann.' It first appeared as a first name in U.S. records in 1881, its peak year, when it ranked 5,208th. Since 2014, its popularity has been falling; in 2025, only about 1 in 94,893 newborns were named Manning, a rarity that has kept it off state-level popularity lists entirely. The name's trajectory reflects the broader decline of patronymic surnames as first names, though it endures as a distinctive choice with a straightforward pronunciation and classic feel.
Manning originated as an English surname derived from the Old English personal name 'Mann,' meaning 'man' or 'servant,' combined with the patronymic suffix '-ing' meaning 'son of.' As a given name, it was adopted from the surname, notably popular in the United States during the late 19th century. Its usage as a first name has declined since the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Manny, Man
Sibling names for Manning
Names that share Manning's style, for a brother or sister.
