Manasseh

#4601 US Recent (Boy Names) #7315 US All-Time

Meaning & Etymology

The name Manasseh derives from the Hebrew verb 'nashah,' meaning 'to forget' or 'to cause to forget,' reflecting its biblical connotation of divine forgetting of past hardships. In Genesis 41:51, Joseph names his firstborn son Manasseh, stating 'God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house,' symbolizing relief from suffering and a new beginning. This etymology ties the name to themes of forgiveness, redemption, and transition from adversity, common in Semitic naming practices where names encode personal or familial narratives. Over time, the name's semantic field has expanded in religious contexts to evoke mercy and oblivion of sins, though its core remains rooted in the Genesis account without later phonetic shifts altering the primary sense.

Linguistic Origin

Manasseh originates in Biblical Hebrew as 'Mənashshêh' (מְנַשֶּׁה), from the Northwest Semitic language family spoken by ancient Israelites around the 2nd millennium BCE. It entered broader usage through the Hebrew Bible's transmission into Greek as 'Manassēs' in the Septuagint, facilitating its spread into Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian communities across the Mediterranean. From Greek, it was Latinized as 'Manasses' in the Vulgate, influencing Romance and Germanic languages during the Roman Empire and medieval periods. In English, it appears via the King James Bible in the 17th century, retaining close fidelity to the Hebrew form. Transmission pathways include Jewish diaspora communities in Europe and the Middle East, with phonetic adaptations in Yiddish ('Menash') and Arabic ('Munashshah'), though the name remains most stable in religious liturgical contexts.

Cultural Background

In Judaism, Manasseh symbolizes divine forgiveness, invoked in prayers for forgetting sins, with the tribe's blessing in Deuteronomy 33:13-17 highlighting agricultural prosperity and strength. Christianity views Manasseh through Joseph's story as prefiguring Gentile inclusion via Ephraim-Manasseh adoption by Jacob (Genesis 48), emphasizing primogeniture reversal and grace. Culturally, the name endures in Ashkenazi and Sephardic naming traditions for firstborn sons, reinforcing ties to biblical patriarchy; King Manasseh's narrative cautions against idolatry while affirming repentance's power, influencing homiletic literature across Abrahamic faiths.

Pronunciation

Commonly pronounced as muh-NAS-uh in English, with stress on the second syllable; biblical Hebrew approximates meh-nah-SHEH; variants include mah-NAH-say in some Jewish traditions and mah-NAHS in French-influenced readings.

Gender Usage

Historically and primarily masculine in biblical and Jewish contexts, with unisex potential in modern English-speaking religious settings though rare for females.

Nicknames & Variants

Nicknames

Manny
Mani
Nash
Menashy

Variants

Menashe
Menash
Manasses
Munashshah

Origins & History

Historical Namesakes

Manasseh ben Israel - rabbi/scholar - 17th-century advocate for Jewish resettlement in England
Robert Manasseh - modern author - contributes to biblical studies and theology

Mythology & Literature

In biblical literature, Manasseh is Joseph's firstborn son, elevated to tribal patriarch whose descendants form one of Israel's twelve tribes east of the Jordan, symbolizing inheritance and land division in the Promised Land narrative. The tribe of Manasseh features prominently in Joshua and Judges, embodying themes of conquest, internal division, and fidelity to covenant amid territorial challenges. Literary echoes appear in midrashic expansions and Christian typology, portraying Manasseh as a figure of favored reconciliation, influencing naming in Puritan literature and sermons.

Historical Significance

Manasseh, son of Joseph, holds foundational status as eponymous ancestor of the Tribe of Manasseh, which played key roles in Israelite conquests and monarchy, including half-tribe settlement in Gilead documented in Joshua 17. King Manasseh of Judah (2 Kings 21), a 7th-century BCE ruler, reigned longest in Judah's history, known for idolatry reforms under Assyrian influence and later repentance in Chronicles, marking a complex legacy of apostasy and restoration. These bearers underscore the name's association with leadership, territorial legacy, and religious oscillation in ancient Near Eastern history. Rabbi Manasseh ben Israel (1604-1657) advanced Jewish scholarship and diplomacy, petitioning Oliver Cromwell for Jewish readmission to England, bridging medieval and modern eras.

Additional Information

Popularity & Demographics

Niche usage persists primarily in religious communities, particularly among Jewish and Christian families valuing biblical names. Visibility remains steady but low in general populations, with occasional upticks in areas of strong scriptural influence.

Trend Analysis

Stable niche appeal in faith-based naming circles shows no strong rise or decline. Continued scriptural relevance supports enduring but limited visibility amid preferences for shorter biblical names.

Geographical Distribution

Concentrated in Israel, United States Jewish communities, and UK religious enclaves; scattered presence in Christian populations of Europe and Africa following biblical naming revivals.

Personality Traits

Associated with resilience and forgiveness in naming psychology, reflecting the biblical theme of overcoming hardship; perceived as thoughtful and steadfast without strong stereotypical biases.

Compatibility & Initials

Pairs neutrally with surnames starting in vowels or soft consonants like B, D, L; initials M.M. or M.J. evoke balanced, memorable flow in professional contexts.

Sociolinguistic Usage

Predominantly formal and religious register in Jewish liturgy and Christian devotionals; less common in secular or colloquial speech, with diaspora adaptations varying by host language phonology.

Explore more from this origin in Hebrew origin names .