Imani
Girl name · #580 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Imani is currently the #580 girl name in the United States — 512 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #533, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,516 girls born in 2025 was named Imani.
The 55-year story
Imani first appears in the Social Security records in 1970, when 9 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 1,222 girls were named Imani — good for #253 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Imani per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Imani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Imani in class?
Imani scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Imani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Imani is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Imanis were TX (71), FL (45), CA (42), GA (36), NY (26). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Imani
Statistically, parents drawn to Imani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Amani, Emani, Tiana, Hanna, and Noelani.
AmaniEmaniTianaHannaNoelaniHalleKianaAnahi
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Imani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 512 | #579 |
| 2024 | 585 | #526 |
| 2023 | 647 | #476 |
| 2022 | 627 | #504 |
| 2021 | 583 | #530 |
| 2020 | 580 | #522 |
| 2019 | 597 | #521 |
| 2018 | 607 | #515 |
| 2017 | 573 | #541 |
| 2016 | 577 | #541 |
| 2015 | 585 | #533 |
| 2014 | 626 | #499 |
| 2013 | 630 | #482 |
| 2012 | 807 | #387 |
| 2011 | 809 | #392 |
| 2010 | 861 | #372 |
| 2009 | 774 | #411 |
| 2008 | 841 | #384 |
| 2007 | 845 | #388 |
| 2006 | 785 | #405 |
| 2005 | 757 | #412 |
| 2004 | 801 | #387 |
| 2003 | 954 | #328 |
| 2002 | 968 | #318 |
| 2001 | 1,047 | #300 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Imani a popular girl name?
Imani ranked #580 among girls in 2025 with 512 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #533.
When was the name Imani most popular?
Imani peaked in 1998, when 1,222 American girls received the name (ranked #253 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Imani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,516 newborn American girls was named Imani. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.