The name Mannix is of Irish origin and is derived from the ancient Gaelic given name Mannach, which means "little monk" or "devout". It is believed to have been borne by an early Christian saint, Saint Mannach, who was a bishop in Ireland during the fifth century.
The name Mannix is also associated with the O'Mannin clan, one of the oldest and most influential families in Irish history. The O'Mannins were a sept of the Uí Fiachrach Muaidh, a dynasty that ruled over parts of Connacht and Ulster for centuries. The family was known for their bravery and military prowess, and many of its members played significant roles in Irish politics and warfare.
Over time, the name Mannix has become popular outside of Ireland as well. Today, it is often used as both a given name and a surname, with people bearing the name found throughout the world. Despite its relatively rare usage compared to other names, Mannix remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for an Irish name with deep historical roots.
The name Mannix has seen a varied pattern of usage over the years in the United States. It first appeared in the top 1000 names for boys in 1967 with seven births that year. The following year, it rose slightly to thirteen births.
In the early 1970s, the number of babies named Mannix fluctuated between seven and eighteen per year. There was a significant gap in its usage from 1975 until 1990 when six babies were named Mannix.
The name began to gain some traction again in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with five births each year between 2000 and 2004. However, it was not until 2005 that Mannix started to become more popular, with seventeen births recorded that year.
From 2006 onwards, the number of babies named Mannix increased steadily, reaching a peak of thirty-one births in 2010. This popularity was maintained for several years, with around twenty-five to thirty births per year between 2010 and 2017.
However, since 2018, there has been another decline in the usage of Mannix as a baby name, with numbers dropping back down to single digits. In 2020, only ten babies were named Mannix, and this figure fell further to six in both 2021 and 2022.
In total, since 1967, there have been 508 babies named Mannix born in the United States. While its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, it is clear that Mannix remains a unique and distinctive name choice for parents looking for something different.