At a Glance: Name: Manitou – Meaning: a spirit or sacred/supernatural power in Algonquian tradition; the proper-noun 'Supreme Being' sense is a later specialization of this common noun – Origin: Algonquian – Pronunciation: MAN-ih-too
Manitou is an Algonquian name meaning “a spirit or sacred/supernatural power in Algonquian tradition; the proper-noun 'Supreme Being' sense is a later specialization of this common noun”. It appears in our list of 200+ Native American Baby Names Honoring Indigenous Heritage.
Meaning & Origin of Manitou
Meaning: A spirit or sacred/supernatural power in Algonquian tradition; the proper-noun 'Supreme Being' sense is a later specialization of this common noun.
Origin: Algonquian.
A common claim: Popularly glossed as 'Great Spirit' Actually: 'Great Spirit' specifically translates the compound 'Gitche Manitou'; the standalone word 'manitou' means a spirit or sacred/supernatural power more generally, not literally 'great spirit.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Manitou
Phonetic: MAN-ih-too IPA: /ˈmænɪtuː/
Popularity of Manitou
Manitou doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Manitou
Similar Names
Massasoit · Kitchi · Megedagik · Keme · Misae · Kanti
