[name]Just[/name] a random question since I’ve been wondering about it for a while, but could [name]Manu[/name] ever be usable for a girl. Obviously it is a boys name but do you consider it to be unique and original or just too eccentric and over the top for a girl. I’m so confused…
Thanks X
Um, no. Definitely not a girl name, unless maybe you went with [name]Emanuela[/name] or [name]Emmanuelle[/name] and called her [name]Manu[/name] as a nickname? All the [name]Manus[/name] I know have either [name]Manuel[/name], _______ [name]Manuel[/name] or [name]Emmanuel[/name] as a first name and go by [name]Manu[/name].
I don’t think it’s unique because I know a bunch of guys named [name]Manu[/name], and boy names on girls is far from an original concept.
It’s usable, I just wouldn’t use it as a given name.
Haha…this makes me go back a [name]LONG[/name] time ago…the days of the VCR.
My nana used to record a kid’s series on TV called Play School for my auntie. She eventually handed them down to me.
I watched them everyday. 
It was a New Zealand show, so they had some Maori names on there.
There was a little doll called [name]Manu[/name], yes [name]Manu[/name].
Since I’ve grown up with [name]Manu[/name] being a girl’s name, I don’t think I could ever actually picture it on a boy!!
So, to me, its fine and dandy.
~[name]Jasmine[/name]
[name]Manu[/name] doesn’t sound like a girls name to me. At all. I sort of hear Shamu. Like lucialucentum said, it’s not unique or original to take a boys name and put it on a girl. Besides, [name]Manu[/name] could be used as a nickname for [name]Emanuelle[/name], [name]Manuela[/name], ect.
I’ve never heard of this name before, but since it’s an established boys name, I’d just leave it that way.
It’s usable for a boy, but not on a girl.
;\ The “man” is [name]Manu[/name] seems like strong teasing potential for a girl.
Agree with previous posters. What about Melu?
[name]How[/name] about [name]Manon[/name]? This is a french name pronounced man-oh.
Came here to suggest [name]Manon[/name] as well. I think [name]Manu[/name] sounds pretty bad with my American accent!
I also remember the NZ kids show Playschool from the 80s. Not sure where you are from. Here is [name]Manu[/name]: Loading... | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
This is all I picture when I hear that name.
[name]Just[/name] for interest, Play school was one of the first ‘franchise’ TV shows. It originated in [name]England[/name] and was later reproduced in Australia and New Zealand. It is still going strong in Australia and is now the second longest running TV show in the world (I guess behind [name]Sesame[/name] [name]Street[/name]).
We (Australia) don’t have [name]Manu[/name] but instead our ‘cultural minority’ doll is [name]Meeka[/name], who replaced the original english Hamble.
Back on thread, I only know [name]Manu[/name] as a full male name from New Zealand.
I know a girl named [name]Manu[/name], I’ve always thought it was really cute!! Her full name is Manuariki, but she always goes by [name]Manu[/name]
[name]Manu[/name] (in Maori at least…) is pronounced MAH-nu, so there’s no ‘man’ sound in it at all. Even though it’s traditionally a boys name, I think it sounds quite feminine and works really well for a girl. Plus it means ‘bird’ which I like a lot too!
If you take off the last letter, it spells “[name]Man[/name]”. I’m sure this is something other kids would pick up on, I’d avoid for this reason.
I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I mull it over, the better it sounds.
I do think that it should only be a nickname. It would be really cute for [name]Emmanuelle[/name].
