I took a school admissions test the other day, and a couple of the kids taking it with me had interesting names (there was a [name_u]Messiah[/name_u]!) and the one that stood out to me the most was [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]. I’ve heard this name before, of course, but never thought much of it. For whatever reason it suddenly sounded really appealing, so I took to NB for some feedback
The thing that would hold me back the most is the strong religious connection. I’m agnostic, but I do have a background involving a very religious school community, and I understand why it would be a odd for me to use it when it doesn’t necessarily “match” my personal beliefs. I do like the sound and the look of [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m], though, and it has pleasant associations (childhood, songs in the chapel, a yearly [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] concert that I loved) due to the aforementioned religious experiences. It’s mostly a name I like for now, I think, not really one I would consider using.
Anyway, what do you think? Usable for a modern-day kid or not? Combinations?
I don’t think of it as being a religious name. Then again, I didn’t grow up religious and the only names I associate with religion really are the obvious [name_f]Marys[/name_f], Josephs, Christians and of course [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] - maybe a few of those -iah names too.
A lot of the names I love have ties to religion as well, although I’m not religious at all - [name_u]Francis[/name_u], [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], [name_m]Malachi[/name_m], [name_u]Micah[/name_u], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], and so on. I wouldn’t worry too much about it,
I’m also a fan of [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]. SO and I are planning to use [name_m]Manuel[/name_m] (Spanish variation) if we ever have a son. I think it’s a strong and handsome name. It does have strong religious ties, but you said you have pleasant associations to it, so I don’t see why it’s a problem. If you like it, use it
I love [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]. I like [name_m]Immanuel[/name_m] a bit better though.
I has a lot of nickname potential, it’s strong but sophisticated. It’s not overused, but not weird either.
[name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is such a handsome sounding name with some awesome nicknames to go with it.
A friend of mine from highschool has an adorable little imp named [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] who goes by [name_m]Manny[/name_m] right now, he’s only 6 months old but he has such a cute, mischievous little personality already.
[name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is the name of my fiancée! We call him [name_m]Manny[/name_m]. It’s a super masculine but gentle to say name, if you get my drift. I love it and I don’t think it’s outdated at all.
[name_u]Love[/name_u] it! Of course, I’m partial to the feminine [name_m]French[/name_m] variation [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f], which comes with the beautiful unisex nickname [name_m]Manu[/name_m]. I agree with @trina14 with regards to the name being masculine but gentle in sound. I feel this most in the Spanish variations. I’m actually not a big fan of the nickname [name_m]Manny[/name_m]. The nickname, for me, does not seem to fit with the feel of the name [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]. [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is so soft and elegant, like naming your son [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], and [name_m]Manny[/name_m] is none of these things to me (maybe it’s just my nasal accent).
On another note, I think [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is the most usable out of all the names given to [name_m]Christ[/name_m]. [name_u]Messiah[/name_u] is alright, I guess, but I feel like [name_u]Messiah[/name_u] has a heavier religious connoation than [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m]. The word [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is wholey [name_m]Christian[/name_m] in the sense that it came out of the Old Testament. As Christians, we associated this biblical passage with [name_m]Christ[/name_m], hence why [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is now used in the [name_m]Christian[/name_m] sense. But I don’t see why all People of the Book (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) can’t use it. I’d like to think this name is religiously ambiguous. In English-speaking countries, most people don’t really consider it acceptable to name your son [name_m]Christ[/name_m] or [name_m]Jesus[/name_m], though I could see [name_m]Yeshua[/name_m] ([name_m]Jesus[/name_m]'s real name before it was anglicized).
[name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] is handsome! If I didn’t already have a daughter named [name_f]Emma[/name_f], I’d consider putting [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m] on my list. It always reminds me of this song, O Come O Come Emmanuel. SO BEAUTIFUL!
Coming from a religious standpoint, I do think the name is very religious.
I like [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m], but I do associate it very heavily with [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] (because I only ever really hear it in [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] carols, apart from [name_m]Immanuel[/name_m] Kant). So by extension, yes, I do think it is an overtly religious name, specificially being another name for [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]. As an atheist, I appreciate its qualities, but I wouldn’t use it myself. I don’t particularly see any problem with it, though, it’s more a case of what you’re comfortable with.
