Imani Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Imani Name Meaning

Fact: Imani is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, representing faith, and is celebrated on the seventh day of the holiday. This association adds a deep cultural and spiritual layer to the name.

Continue Reading…
A Deep Dive

Imani Overview

Meaning

Faith, belief

Gender

Girl, Gender-neutral

Origin

Arabic, Swahili

Etymology

Derived from the Swahili word “imani,” which means “faith,” and it has Arabic origins with a similar meaning​

Religion

Islam

Pronunciation

/iˈmɑːni/

Popularity

Imani is a cherished name in various parts of the world, especially in East Africa and among African American communities. In the USA, Imani ranked #476 for girls in 2023

Syllable

3 syllables

Length

5 letters

Numerology

1 (Pioneering, Independent, Leading)

Name Styles

Exotic, Religious and Spiritual, Unique

Associated Traits

Strong, independent, ambitious, inventive.

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Imani carries significant cultural and spiritual meaning, symbolizing faith and belief, often used to inspire self-confidence and community trust​

Name Day

December 31st (Kwanzaa)​
A Deep Dive

Imani Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Iman, Amani, Emani, Imane, Aimonie

Common Nicknames

Mani, Ima, Mimi, Nani, Ani

Diminutives

Imi, Imanie, Ims, Imanita, Imanie

Famous People

  • Imani Hakim
    (American Actress)
  • Imani Coppola
    (American Musician)
  • Imani Perry
    (American Author)
  • Imani Winds
    (American Musical Group)
  • Imani Boyette
    (American Basketball Player)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • "Imani"
    (Film)
  • "Imani's Moon"
    (Book)

Places

  • Imani House, Inc.
    (Brooklyn, New York)

What Is the Meaning of Imani?

The name Imani means “faith” or “belief” in Swahili. It signifies a person with strong convictions and an optimistic outlook on life. The name inspires trust and represents a hopeful spirit.

What Is the Origin of The Name Imani?

Imani originates from the Swahili language, predominantly spoken in East Africa. The name is derived from the Arabic word “Iman,” which translates to “faith.”

Imani Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Imani in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#5312021#5032022#4762023
Top 3 Rankings#2391996#2481997#2531998

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Imani

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023476
(+27 from 2022)
645
(+18 from 2022)
0.03687
2022503
(+28 from 2021)
627
(+46 from 2021)
0.03497
2021531
(-9 from 2020)
581
(+3 from 2020)
0.03243
2020522
(-1 from 2019)
578
(-18 from 2019)
0.03270
2019521
(-7 from 2018)
596
(-11 from 2018)
0.03248
2018514
(+27 from 2017)
607
(+34 from 2017)
0.03264
2017541
(+2 from 2016)
573
(-3 from 2016)
0.03033
2016543
(-10 from 2015)
576
(-8 from 2015)
0.02975
2015533
(-33 from 2014)
584
(-41 from 2014)
0.02994
2014500
(-16 from 2013)
625
(-3 from 2013)
0.03195
2013484
(-97 from 2012)
628
(-179 from 2012)
0.03258
2012387
(+5 from 2011)
807
(-2 from 2011)
0.04161
2011392
(-21 from 2010)
809
(-52 from 2010)
0.04175
2010371
(+40 from 2009)
861
(+87 from 2009)
0.04391
2009411
(-27 from 2008)
774
(-66 from 2008)
0.03822
2008384
(+4 from 2007)
840
(-5 from 2007)
0.04033
2007388
(+17 from 2006)
845
(+61 from 2006)
0.03992
2006405
(+7 from 2005)
784
(+27 from 2005)
0.03750
2005412
(-25 from 2004)
757
(-44 from 2004)
0.03730
2004387
(-59 from 2003)
801
(-153 from 2003)
0.03970
2003328
(-10 from 2002)
954
(-14 from 2002)
0.04755
2002318
(-18 from 2001)
968
(-79 from 2001)
0.04901
2001300
(+3 from 2000)
1047
(-4 from 2000)
0.05285
2000303
(-4 from 1999)
1051
(+16 from 1999)
0.05266
1999299
(-46 from 1998)
1035
(-187 from 1998)
0.05316
1998253
(-5 from 1997)
1222
(+37 from 1997)
0.06304
1997248
(-9 from 1996)
1185
(+14 from 1996)
0.06207
1996239
(+27 from 1995)
1171
(+137 from 1995)
0.06108
1995266
(+37 from 1994)
1034
(+129 from 1994)
0.05381
1994303
(+164 from 1993)
905
(+364 from 1993)
0.04642
1993467
(+83 from 1992)
541
(+114 from 1992)
0.02744
1992550
(+173 from 1991)
427
(+139 from 1991)
0.02130
1991723
(+211 from 1990)
288
(+85 from 1990)
0.01416
1990934
(+309 from 1989)
203
(+76 from 1989)
0.00988
19891243
(+444 from 1988)
127
(+51 from 1988)
0.00637
19881687
(+549 from 1987)
76
(+28 from 1987)
0.00395
19872236
(-66 from 1986)
48
No change from 1986
0.00256
19862170
(+487 from 1985)
48
(+12 from 1985)
0.00260
19852657
(+125 from 1984)
36
(+4 from 1984)
0.00195
19842782
(-510 from 1983)
32
(-10 from 1983)
0.00177
19832272
(+143 from 1982)
42
(+2 from 1982)
0.00235
19822415
(+148 from 1981)
40
(+4 from 1981)
0.00220
19812563
(-27 from 1980)
36
(-1 from 1980)
0.00201
19802536
(+188 from 1979)
37
(+5 from 1979)
0.00208
19792724
(-293 from 1978)
32
(-4 from 1978)
0.00186
19782431
(+236 from 1977)
36
(+5 from 1977)
0.00219
19772667
(+265 from 1976)
31
(+6 from 1976)
0.00188
19762932
(-51 from 1975)
25
No change from 1975
0.00159
19752881
(-486 from 1974)
25
(-7 from 1974)
0.00160
19742395
(+111 from 1973)
32
(+3 from 1973)
0.00204
19732506
(+556 from 1972)
29
(+8 from 1972)
0.00187
19723062
(+880 from 1971)
21
(+6 from 1971)
0.00130
19713942
(+1875 from 1970)
15
(+7 from 1970)
0.00086
19705817
First SSA data recorded
8
First SSA data recorded
0.00044
19690
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19680
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19670
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19660
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19650
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19640
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19630
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19620
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19610
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19600
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19590
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19580
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19570
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19560
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19550
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19540
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19530
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19520
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19510
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19500
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19490
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19480
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19470
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19460
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19450
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19440
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19430
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19420
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19410
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19400
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19390
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19380
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19370
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19360
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19350
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19340
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19330
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19320
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19310
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19300
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19290
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19280
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19270
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19260
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19250
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19240
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19230
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19220
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19210
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19200
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19190
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19180
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19170
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19160
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19150
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19140
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19130
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19120
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19110
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19100
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19090
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19080
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19070
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19060
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19050
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19040
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19030
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19020
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19010
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
19000
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18990
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18980
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18970
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18960
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18950
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18940
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18930
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18920
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18910
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18900
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18890
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18880
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18870
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18860
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18850
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18840
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18830
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18820
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18810
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000
18800
No SSA data
0
No SSA data
0.0000

American States Popularity Rankings for Imani

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#6462021#6522022#6572023

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#9062021#6432022#6852023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#4092021#3532022#4902023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#2932021#2722022#2362023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#5152021#4042022#3572023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#4442021#6942022#7662023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#9712021#5832022#6342023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#5262021#5872022#6242023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#2942021#3242022#3782023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#5152021#4832022#4192023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#2872021#3272022#4892023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#6332021#5482022#6522023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#5382021#5712022#4702023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#6292021#5242022#1452023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#3262021#2812022#2152023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#4752021#4332022#4612023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2312016#1782018#2232021

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#5872021#6232022#4832023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#9192021#8012022#4792023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#8832021#5072022#4122023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#2102021#3622022#3082023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#5842021#5112022#5692023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#5262021#4072022#4102023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#5002021#4322022#6522023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#4142021#7522022#5552023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#3792021#2532022#2052023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#5352021#6552022#7132023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#4692021#4552022#3962023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#3612016#4762019#3252023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#7952020#7952021#6232023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#6722020#7882021#7822022

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1802014#1632015#1302018

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#6242021#3932022#3942023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#5422018#4762022#4582023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#6782019#4012020#5262021

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#6392015#5242020#6202021

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1842000#2212001#2162002

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#4692004#4562011#3452023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#3272001#4752017

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2132011

Popularity Rankings for Imani in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#3052023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#10552020#5682021#6532022

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#6132020#6642021#6772022

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#6942019#6552020#6742021

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#7562022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#9052022

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Imani a Name for Boys or Girls?

Traditionally, Imani is more commonly given to girls, but it is increasingly popular as a gender-neutral name. The name’s profound meaning appeals to parents regardless of their child’s gender.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Imani

Imani in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Imani Hakim (Actress, born 1993): American actress best known for her role as Tonya in the television series "Everybody Hates Chris."
  • Imani Coppola (Musician, born 1978): American singer, songwriter, and violinist, known for her eclectic music style and hit song "Legend of a Cowgirl."
  • Imani Perry (Author, born 1972): American scholar and author whose work focuses on African American culture and history.
  • Imani Winds (Musical Group, founded 1997): A Grammy-nominated American wind quintet celebrated for their innovative performances and repertoire.
  • Imani Boyette (Basketball Player, born 1994): American professional basketball player who has played in the WNBA.
  • Imani Uzuri (Singer, born 1978): American vocalist and composer, recognized for her genre-defying music and powerful performances.
  • "Imani" (2023 Film): About a woman who discovers she is an Army special ops lieutenant with classified information
  • "Imani's Moon" (2014 Book): A children's book about a young Maasai girl named Imani.
  • Imani House, Inc. (Brooklyn, New York): A community center providing various social services.

Similar Names to Imani

Sibling Names for Imani

Parents Who Like the Name Imani Also Like

Exploring Imani was a blast! If you found this interesting, share it with your friends and stay tuned for more name insights. Until next time!
Helen Doanna

Helen Doanna

Editor in Chief, Educational Specialist, and Senior Content Creator

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Child Development Specialist, Child-care Coordinator, Family Support Specialist, Content Writer, Communications Specialist, Educational Consultant, STEAM Teacher

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1. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Literature and Journalism
  • Focus: In-depth knowledge of Literature, knowledge and skills to perceive, create literature or work in related fields; Basic knowledge of communications.

2. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Bachelor’s degree in Education Faculty
  • Focus: Core knowledge of social sciences and humanities – the root for the development of progressive values of education, Multicultural communication in education, Contemporary education in the context of globalization, Learning in the digital technology era, Basic issues of STEAM education, Classroom Management, Special education.

3. Oregon State University, Oregan, US

  • Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Human Development and Family Sciences – Child Development
  • Focus: Different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood; Develop a strong foundation for a career in early childhood programs or classrooms; Learn strategies for supporting young children’s development in early childhood settings.
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Helen is an experienced educational specialist and content creator, known for her innovative approach to children’s learning. With a background in literature and child development, she composes engaging educational content for SimpleKids.net. Her work emphasizes creativity, engagement, and simplicity, aiming to make learning enjoyable and accessible for children and their families.

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