Manifred
A Germanic name meaning "mighty peace" or "strong protector".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Manifred. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Manifred today is around 112 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Manifred births was 1936 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Manifred. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Manifred is about 112 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Manifreds were born before 1924.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Manifred. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1936
5 babies that year
Average age
112
years old
1936 SSA rank
#3,872
Tracked since 1936
Popularity
Manifred: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Manifred by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Manifred during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Manifred
The name Manifred is believed to have originated in the Germanic language family, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is composed of two elements: "manni," meaning "man" or "human," and "frid," which translates to "peace" or "safety." Together, these components suggest a meaning along the lines of "man of peace" or "protector of humanity."
During the medieval period, variations of the name were found across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Germanic influences, such as Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Historical records show spellings like Manfrid, Manfried, and Manfredus, which eventually evolved into the modern form of Manifred.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a renowned German epic poem from the 13th century. Here, a character named Manfrit is mentioned as a valiant warrior fighting alongside the legendary hero Siegfried.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Manifred. One of the most prominent was Manfred of Sicily (1232-1266), a King of Sicily who played a significant role in the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, which were opposing factions in medieval Italian politics. Manfred was eventually defeated and killed in the Battle of Benevento.
Another historical figure was Manfred von Richthofen (1892-1918), better known as the "Red Baron," a legendary German fighter pilot during World War I. His exceptional skills and daring in aerial combat made him one of the most famous aviators of the era.
In the realm of literature, Manfred is the title character of a dramatic poem by Lord Byron, published in 1817. The work explores themes of guilt, remorse, and the supernatural, and was inspired by the legend of the Faustian bargain.
Manifred Kyber (1880-1926) was a German architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the development of modern city planning. His ideas and designs influenced the growth of many cities in Germany and beyond.
Lastly, Manifred Wörner (1942-1994) was a German politician and diplomat who served as the Secretary-General of NATO from 1988 until his untimely death in 1994. He played a crucial role in guiding the alliance through the challenges of the post-Cold War era.
People
Manifred + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Manifred as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Manifred: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Manifred?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Manifred going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Manifred a common name?
We classify Manifred as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Manifred most popular?
The single biggest year for Manifred was 1936, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Manifred is about 112 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Manifred in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Manifred a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Manifred in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Manifred still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Manifred in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Manifred can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Manifred?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.