Manasseh as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Manasseh

What is the meaning of the name Manasseh ?

The baby name Manasseh is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced muh-NAS-uh (/məˈnæsə/).

Manasseh is Biblical, Hebrew in Origin.

Manasseh is a Hebrew given name from the root n-š-h, “to forget,” appearing in the Bible as Menashsheh (מְנַשֶּׁה). It means “causing to forget” or “God has made me forget,” reflecting Joseph’s explanation in Genesis 41:51. Through the Septuagint and Vulgate it entered other languages as Manassēs/Manasses. Variants include Menashe (modern Hebrew/Yiddish), Manasse (German, Italian, Dutch), Manassé or Manassès (French), Manasés (Spanish), and Manassés (Portuguese).

In scripture it names Joseph’s firstborn and the tribe that bore him, including the half‑tribes on either side of the Jordan; it also identifies Manasseh, a long‑reigning king of Judah later remembered for repentance. The name persisted in Jewish communities - famously Manasseh ben Israel - and saw English use among Puritans (e.g., Manasseh Cutler). Today it remains uncommon but recognizable in Jewish and Christian circles, with Menashe frequent in Israel and occasional English diminutives like Manny.