What does Bahati mean?
Bahati means “luck” or “good fortune” in Swahili.
What does Imani mean?
Swahili, 'faith,' borrowed from Arabic iman. It is one of the seven Kwanzaa principles (nguzo saba). Used for either sex, leaning feminine.
Bahati vs Imani
Which is more popular?
Imani is more popular than Bahati today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 8 named Bahati.
| Bahati | Imani | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Luck, fortune | Faith |
| Origin | Swahili | swahili |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | bah-HAH-tee | ee-MAH-nee |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1975 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 2024 (12) | 1998 (1,222) |
| In 2025 | 8 | 512 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bahati
Imani
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bahati | Imani |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 46 | 3,534 |
| 2010s | 23 | 6,672 |
| 2000s | 0 | 8,823 |
| 1990s | 0 | 8,011 |
| 1980s | 6 | 522 |
| 1970s | 5 | 255 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bahati or Imani more popular?
Imani is more popular than Bahati today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 8 named Bahati.
What is the difference between Bahati and Imani?
Bahati means Luck, fortune (Swahili origin), while Imani means Faith (swahili origin).
Which name is older, Bahati or Imani?
In US records, Bahati first appears in 1975 and Imani in 1970, so Imani has the longer recorded history.