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 Bahati mean?
Bahati means “luck” or “good fortune” in Swahili.
Imani vs Bahati
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.
| Imani | Bahati | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Faith | Luck, fortune |
| Origin | swahili | Swahili |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | ee-MAH-nee | bah-HAH-tee |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1975 |
| Peak year | 1998 (1,222) | 2024 (12) |
| In 2025 | 512 | 8 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Imani
Bahati
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Imani | Bahati |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,534 | 46 |
| 2010s | 6,672 | 23 |
| 2000s | 8,823 | 0 |
| 1990s | 8,011 | 0 |
| 1980s | 522 | 6 |
| 1970s | 255 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Imani or Bahati 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 Imani and Bahati?
Imani means Faith (swahili origin), while Bahati means Luck, fortune (Swahili origin).
Which name is older, Imani or Bahati?
In US records, Imani first appears in 1970 and Bahati in 1975, so Imani has the longer recorded history.