Mannaz is the conventional name of the /m/ rune ᛗ of the Elder Futhark. It is derived from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic (or Common Germanic) word for 'man', *mannaz.
The Younger Futhark equivalent ᛘ is maðr ('man'). It took up the shape of the algiz rune ᛉ, replacing Elder Futhark ᛗ.
As its sound value and form in the Elder Futhark indicate, it is derived from the letter for /m/, 𐌌, in the Old Italic alphabets, ultimately from the Greek letter mu (uppercase Μ, lowercase μ).
The rune is recorded in all three rune poems, in the Norwegian and Icelandic poems as maðr, and in the Anglo-Saxon poem as man.
For the 'man' rune of the Armanen Futharkh as the 'life' rune in Germanic mysticism, see Lebensrune.
