What does Baraka mean?
Baraka means “blessing” 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.
Baraka vs Imani
Which is more popular?
Imani is more popular than Baraka today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 24 named Baraka.
| Baraka | Imani | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Blessing | Faith |
| Origin | Swahili | swahili |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | bah-RAH-kah | ee-MAH-nee |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1971 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 2021 (24) | 1998 (1,222) |
| In 2025 | 24 | 512 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Baraka
Imani
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Baraka | Imani |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 118 | 3,534 |
| 2010s | 109 | 6,672 |
| 2000s | 95 | 8,823 |
| 1990s | 21 | 8,011 |
| 1980s | 5 | 522 |
| 1970s | 45 | 255 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Baraka or Imani more popular?
Imani is more popular than Baraka today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 24 named Baraka.
What is the difference between Baraka and Imani?
Baraka means Blessing (Swahili origin), while Imani means Faith (swahili origin).
Which name is older, Baraka or Imani?
In US records, Baraka first appears in 1971 and Imani in 1970, so Imani has the longer recorded history.