Imani
Boy name · #3015 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Imani? In official American birth records, Imani has been tracked continuously since 1972, giving it 53 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Imani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very 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
State-level data for Imani is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Imani?
In official American birth records, the name Imani first appeared in 1972 (over 53 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 53 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.