来自古爱尔兰语Manu,即Isle of Man.该岛为英格兰与爱尔兰之间的海岛。Manu在古爱尔兰语里有海神之意，即海神保佑的岛屿。同时，也有学者认为该词本身意为岛，来自PIE*men,突起，升起，词源同mountain,eminent.即海上升起的山，岛屿。
英文词源
Manx
1798, earlier Manks (1620s), metathesized from Maniske (1570s) "of the Isle of Man," from Old Norse *manskr, from Man (from Old Irish Manu "Isle of Man") + suffix -iskr "ish." Manx cat, without a tail, first attested 1843.