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