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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Imani

Imani

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced eem-AN-ee /im.ˈæn.i/Medium

Meaning: FaithMedium

In 30 seconds: Imani is a Swahili name meaning 'faith', used here for a boy.
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Origin MediumSwahili, African American
MeaningFaith
U.S. rank (2025)#3014 β†˜ Falling
2025 U.S. births41 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 1,394

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 202119722025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Imani comes from Swahili and means 'faith', drawing on the Arabic root for belief that runs through East African naming. It carries a clear, hopeful meaning and a flowing three-syllable sound.

Closely related forms appear in Arabic spelling as Iman, Imaan, and Eman, along with Imen and Imane, all circling the same idea of faith.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Imani is 'faith', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Imani β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

EmanImaanImanImenImane

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Imani…

Imanβ€” The Arabic form of the same 'faith' word behind Imani.
Amaniβ€” shares Imani's Swahili roots
Jelaniβ€” a fellow Swahili choice
Damaniβ€” another African American name
Asaniβ€” a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Imani

By themeafrican-americanswahili

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Imani mean?

Imani is usually explained as meaning 'faith' and is most often linked with Swahili tradition.

How do you pronounce Imani?

It's commonly said eem-AN-ee /im.ˈæn.i/.

Is Imani a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Imani is used as a boy name.

How popular is Imani?

In 2024, Imani ranked #2838 in the U.S. for boys, with 45 births recorded.

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