Manu

“Bird” in Hawaiian; as a short form of Manuel or Emmanuel, it inherits “God is with us”.

Four letters give Manu several different stories. In Hawaiian, manu means “bird”, and Manu is used for both boys and girls. That origin offers a simple nature image. In languages including Spanish and French, Manu is also a short form of Manuel or Emmanuel; in German it can shorten Manuela too. This family carries the Hebrew meaning “God is with us”. There is also a distinct Sanskrit name Manu, used as a masculine name and associated in Hindu tradition with an ancestor of humankind. These histories meet in the same spelling, rather than forming one combined meaning. A bird name, a familiar family short form and a Hindu cultural connection each give a different reason to choose Manu. Its m and n make the sound feel soft and friendly. Hawaiian and Spanish /ˈma.nu/ both have two syllables and first-syllable stress; French /ma.ny/ ends with the French u sound instead. The same spelling covers different pronunciations, so the language you use at home helps determine how Manu will sound.

Etymology: Manu has several distinct histories: a Hawaiian bird name, a European short form in the Manuel/Emmanuel family with Hebrew roots, and a separate Sanskrit name associated with Hindu tradition.