Imani
Girl name · #580 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Imani? In official American birth records, Imani has been tracked continuously since 1970, giving it 55 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Imani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Imani in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Imani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Imani will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Imani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Imani is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Imani is most common in MS (1.7 per 1,000), LA (0.9 per 1,000), GA (0.8 per 1,000), MD (0.8 per 1,000), SC (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Imani is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Imani?
In official American birth records, the name Imani first appeared in 1970 (over 55 years ago), when 9 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 55 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.