Imam
Imam is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. Thus for Sunnis, anyone can study the basic Islamic teachings and become an imam.
- Arabic
- Indonesian
Meaning & Origin of Imam
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Imam is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. Thus for Sunnis, anyone can study the basic Islamic teachings and become an imam.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
- Indonesian
The Story of Imam
The earliest SSA record of Imam as a baby boy name dates back to 2001, when 7 babies received it. 2001 was its biggest year on record, with 7 newborns named Imam — #8,338 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 79% of all recorded Imams. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2017 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 24 Imams have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Imam
Phonetically similar names — useful when Imam is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Imam
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About the name Imam
Imam is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2001 and has accumulated 24 births in the dataset. Imam's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #8,338. Use the chart and map above to compare Imam's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2001 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.