Imani
Meaning
faith; a beloved name in African American families, part of the Swahili virtue-name tradition embraced since the 1970s
The story
Imani means faith in Swahili and is used in both Swahili and African American naming. Its US record becomes visible in the 1970s, with about 330 births, then 600 in the 1980s, 8,400 in the 1990s, and a crest near 9,100 in the 2000s. The line continues with 6,900 in the 2010s and 3,800 so far this decade, mostly girls: about 27,800 girls and 1,400 boys across the full record. That curve shows a name establishing itself and lasting across generations. It does not reveal why any particular family selected it. Faith is a compact virtue word with room for personal meaning, and Imani carries that clarity without needing a motive assigned to its bearers: one Swahili word, a long American record, and many private reasons the numbers cannot supply.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Imani peaked in the 2000s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
43 people · the #73,816 first name in Brazil · median age 9
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Imani
Most people given the name Imani in the United States are teenagers or young adults today.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Imani deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Imani truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Imani fits with your family’s names and surname.
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