Emmanuel

God is with us.

Emmanuel means “God is with us”. Its Hebrew wording expresses a whole thought, rather than naming a quality such as strength or courage. The name appears in Isaiah and is taken up in Matthew, where its meaning is explained. This gives it a clear place in the Christian tradition as well as a Hebrew linguistic origin. There is a generous rhythm to Emmanuel: the m and n sounds soften the middle, while the final l gives it a gentle close. To our ear, it feels warm and dignified rather than brisk. The longer form can appeal if you enjoy a name that unfolds when spoken and has room for a little ceremony. The faith connection is worth weighing alongside the sound. For some families it is the central attraction; others may be drawn first to the name’s flowing shape. Emmanuel and Immanuel retain the same meaning, so choosing between them changes the spelling rather than the underlying message.

Etymology: Emmanuel comes through Greek from Hebrew Immanu’el: immanu means “with us” and el means “God”. Immanuel is another form of the same name.