Given name & surname
Manning
“daughter of Man”·“the son of the man; the son of the hero”
Manning is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of Man” (English) and “the son of the man; the son of the hero” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “daughter of Man” (English) and “the son of the man; the son of the hero” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Manning through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,884
- 1,840 boys · 44 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 44 babies
- 2025
- 24
- #5,329 for boys · #14,302 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 18 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,329 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 26.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 44 in 1916. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,127 as a first name in 2020; 71,809 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Manning’s family of names
Manning has a related form in Maning. Manning has a related form in Mannyng. Manning has a related form in Manyng.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Manning
- Manning MarableAmerican professor of public affairs and African American studies at Columbia University and biographer (1950–2011)
- Manning JohnsonAmerican writer1908–1959
- Manning Ferguson ForceUnion Army general United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1824-1899)
- Manning GallowayAmerican boxerborn 1960
- Manning Lee StokesAmerican writer (1911-1976)
- Manning KimmelRecipient of the Purple Heart medal (1913–1944)
- Manning HaynesBritish actor (1889–1957)1888–1957
- Manning WhileyBritish actor (1915-1975)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Manning, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Irving
“a triend of the sea”
>99% boys
Gardner
“one who works the earth” · “the keeper of the garden”
97% boys · 3% girls
Milton
“from the mill town”
>99% boys
Orrin
“from the river”
>99% boys
Gaines
“one who acquires”
>99% boys
Hale
“from the hall of light; a heroine” · “from the hall; a hero”
>99% boys
Caldwell
“of the cold well” · “from the cold spring”
>99% boys
Wright
“a wood carver; a carpenter”
>99% boys