Find out how popular the first name Manasseh has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Manasseh by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Manasseh is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Manasseh being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 23 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Manasseh.

The history of the first name Manasseh

The name Manasseh has its origins in Hebrew, deriving from the Biblical figure Manasseh, son of Joseph and grandson of the patriarch Jacob. The name is composed of two parts: the Hebrew word "nashah," meaning "to forget," and the phrase "ki nashnani Elohim," translating to "for God has made me forget."

In the Old Testament book of Genesis, Manasseh is one of the two sons of Joseph and his Egyptian wife Asenath. Joseph names him Manasseh, saying, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." This biblical reference marks one of the earliest recorded instances of the name's use.

During the biblical period, Manasseh was also the name of a king of the Kingdom of Judah, who reigned from around 687 to 642 BCE. According to the Books of Kings and Chronicles, King Manasseh initially led the people into idolatry but later repented and removed pagan worship from the land.

In the Middle Ages, Saint Manasseh was a Christian martyr who lived in Persia during the reign of King Shapur II in the 4th century CE. He was executed for his faith and is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Manasseh was Manasseh ben Joseph of Ilye, a 14th-century Jewish scholar and author from Spain. He wrote several works on Jewish law and philosophy.

In the 17th century, Manasseh ben Israel was a prominent Dutch Jewish philosopher, writer, and advocate for Jewish rights. Born in 1604, he played a crucial role in gaining permission for Jews to settle in England after their expulsion in 1290.

Another notable figure was Manasseh Cutler, an American Congregationalist minister born in 1742. He was a key figure in the settlement of the Northwest Territory and played a role in the creation of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

In the 19th century, Manasseh Masseh Lokulunju was a prominent Ugandan chief and one of the first converts to Christianity in the region. He was executed for his faith in 1886 and is remembered as one of the Ugandan Martyrs.

Manasseh T. Underwood, born in 1876, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 17th Governor of West Virginia from 1923 to 1925.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Manasseh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Manasseh, please contact us.

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