Manuel is a masculine given name originating in the Hebrew name Immanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל), which means "God with us.
"[1][better source needed] It was reportedly brought from the Byzantine Empire (as Μανουήλ) to Western Europe, mainly Germany, Portugal and Spain, where it has been used since at least the 13th century.
[2] The name is popular in Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Romanian, Greek (Latinised as Manolis), Polish, and Dutch.
[citation needed] Manny or Manu are often used as nicknames.
Its feminine variant is Manuela.