Last updated: March 2026

Character Name

Manon

Meaning — Manon is a French feminine given name, a diminutive of Marie (Mary), from the Hebrew Miriam — possibly meaning "beloved", "wished-for child", or "bitterness". The -on diminutive suffix gives it the warm, intimate character of a pet name elevated to a full given name. Its most famous literary bearer is the heroine of Abbé Prévost's novel Manon Lescaut (1731), and the name was further immortalized by Massenet's opera.·French origin·Female·ma-NON

Manon Manon carries the irresistible charm and moral complexity of Prévost's heroine — a woman who loves pleasure and freedom too much to be domestic, yet whose capacity for genuine feeling makes her more than a mere coquette. The name projects a vivid, sensual femininity rooted in 18th-century French culture, suited to historical fiction, stories of passion and downfall, or contemporary narratives of free-spirited women.

Best genres for Manon

Historical FictionRomanceLiterary FictionHistorical Romance

Famous characters named Manon

Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut Abbé Prévost

The enchanting, pleasure-loving young woman whose love for the Chevalier des Grieux brings both of them to ruin — one of French literature's most seductive and morally complex heroines.


Variations & nicknames

ManonMarieMarionManon

Pairs well with

Manon MoreauManon DupontManon RenardManon LaurentManon FontaineManon Lescaut

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