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.
What does Amani mean?
Swahili, 'peace,' from Arabic aman. Unisex.
Imani vs Amani
Which is more popular?
Imani is more popular than Amani today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 419 named Amani.
| Imani | Amani | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Faith | Peace |
| Origin | swahili | swahili |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | ee-MAH-nee | ah-MAH-nee |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1969 |
| Peak year | 1998 (1,222) | 2008 (529) |
| In 2025 | 512 | 419 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Imani
Amani
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Imani | Amani |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,534 | 2,738 |
| 2010s | 6,672 | 4,414 |
| 2000s | 8,823 | 4,206 |
| 1990s | 8,011 | 1,744 |
| 1980s | 522 | 226 |
| 1970s | 255 | 106 |
| 1960s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Imani or Amani more popular?
Imani is more popular than Amani today: about 512 US babies were given the name Imani in 2025, compared with 419 named Amani.
What is the difference between Imani and Amani?
Imani means Faith (swahili origin), while Amani means Peace (swahili origin).
Which name is older, Imani or Amani?
In US records, Imani first appears in 1970 and Amani in 1969, so Amani has the longer recorded history.