Imani
Boy name · #3015 in 2025 · Uniqueness 67/100
Imani is currently the #3015 boy name in the United States — 41 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4890, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 43,902 boys born in 2025 was named Imani.
Babies named Imani per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 53-year story
Imani first appears in the Social Security records in 1972, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 58 boys were named Imani — good for #2349 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Imani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Imani in class?
Imani scores 67 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
State-level data for Imani is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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 Dani, Kamani, Amani, Damani, and Jahlani.
DaniKamaniAmaniDamaniJahlaniAjaniYovaniKeoni
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Imani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #2991 |
| 2024 | 46 | #2789 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 47 | #2753 |
| 2021 | 58 | #2349 |
| 2020 | 32 | #3418 |
| 2019 | 40 | #2993 |
| 2018 | 23 | #4354 |
| 2017 | 35 | #3249 |
| 2016 | 25 | #4098 |
| 2015 | 19 | #4890 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4702 |
| 2013 | 24 | #4064 |
| 2012 | 26 | #3894 |
| 2011 | 32 | #3364 |
| 2010 | 26 | #3894 |
| 2009 | 21 | #4582 |
| 2008 | 31 | #3486 |
| 2007 | 17 | #5210 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4675 |
| 2005 | 23 | #3941 |
| 2004 | 42 | #2569 |
| 2003 | 27 | #3366 |
| 2002 | 39 | #2504 |
| 2001 | 30 | #2988 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Imani a popular boy name?
Imani ranked #3015 among boys in 2025 with 41 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4890.
When was the name Imani most popular?
Imani peaked in 2021, when 58 American boys received the name (ranked #2349 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Imani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 43,902 newborn American boys was named Imani. It scores 67/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.