Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Iman
UnisexArabic· “faith”
- Meaning
- faith
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- ee-MAHN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,072
- US babies 2025
- 91
- Best rank
- #1,043 (1996)
- Peak year
- 1996
Meaning and origin of Iman
Iman is an Arabic name that means “faith”.
Iman is an Arabic word meaning faith or belief, and it is used as a given name for both girls and boys. In Islam, iman refers to the inner faith that is a foundation of religious life. The Somali model Iman made the name widely recognized in the West. It sounds calm and clear, with stress on the second syllable. Iman is short and easy to pronounce in English. It pairs well with both traditional and modern middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Aiman.
Popularity over time
Iman first appears in US Social Security records in 1975. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,043 in 1996, the same year it reached its highest count of 178 babies. In 2025, 91 babies were named Iman, and it ranked #2,072 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,619 in 1980, #1,158 in 2000, #1,878 in 2010, and #2,072 in 2025. Of the 5,124 US girls named Iman since records began, 30% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,395 babies. Since 2010, 1,601 more have been named Iman.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Kaylan, Lakin, Justis, and Lakota.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Iman ranked highest in Virginia, Illinois, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | #980 | 7 |
| Illinois | #1056 | 8 |
| New York | #1362 | 10 |
| Pennsylvania | #1484 | 5 |
| Texas | #1740 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Iman is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 72% of US babies named Iman were girls and 28% were boys.
Iman is usually pronounced ee-MAHN, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with I and ends in “-an”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Aiman.
Middle names for Iman
A few middle names that flow with Iman: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Iman
Similar names
Eman Girl
ee-MAHN
“faith” · Arabic
#2,703
Aman Boy
uh-MAHN
“peace, safety” · Arabic
#2,285
Hanan Girl
hah-NAHN
“mercy (Arabic); grace (Hebrew)” · Arabic
#2,911
Hasan Boy
HAH-sun
“good, handsome” · Arabic
#1,147
Osman Boy
OZ-mun
“Turkish form of Uthman” · Turkish
#1,157
Ayman Boy
AY-mahn
“right-handed, blessed, lucky” · Arabic
#1,095
Adnan Boy
AHD-nahn
“settler; ancestor of the northern Arabs” · Arabic
#1,539
Usman Boy
OOS-mahn
“form of Uthman, "baby bustard"” · Arabic
#1,607
Brendan Boy
BREHN-duhn
“prince” · Irish
#1,098
Brennan Boy
BREH-nuhn
“from an Irish surname” · Irish
#1,003
Kristian Boy
KRIHS-chuhn
“follower of Christ” · Scandinavian
#1,149
Hassan Boy
hah-SAHN
“handsome, good” · Arabic
#626
Lists that include Iman
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Iman mean?
Iman is an Arabic name that means “faith”.
What is the origin of the name Iman?
Iman has Arabic roots. Iman is an Arabic word meaning faith or belief, and it is used as a given name for both girls and boys.
Is Iman a popular name?
Not especially. Iman ranked #2,072 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Iman a boy or girl name?
Iman is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 72% of US babies named Iman were girls and 28% were boys.
How do you pronounce Iman?
Iman is usually pronounced ee-MAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings