Iman
Iman is a given name found in many cultures, that can be both masculine and feminine. Variations of spelling include Eman, Emon, and Imaan.
- Arabic
- Persian
- Urdu
- Indonesian
Meaning & Origin of Iman
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Iman is a given name found in many cultures, that can be both masculine and feminine. Variations of spelling include Eman, Emon, and Imaan.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
- Persian
- Urdu
- Indonesian
- Malay
The Story of Iman
As a girl name
American parents first put Iman on the record books as a girl name in 1975, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1996, when 178 Imans were born — ranking #1,042 that year. About 30% of every Iman on record arrived during the 2000s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Iman ranks #2,161 for girls with 88 births, gradually falling (-5%). All told, over 5K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Iman on the record books as a boy name in 1972, with 11 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 85 Imans were born — ranking #1,898 that year. About 34% of every Iman on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Iman ranks #1,898 for boys with 85 births, rising sharply (+27% over the past five years). All told, over 2K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Iman
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Iman. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Iman
Phonetically similar names — useful when Iman 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 Iman
What does the name Iman mean?
What is the origin of the name Iman?
How popular is Iman in 2026?
When was Iman most popular?
In which U.S. states is Iman most popular?
Is Iman a unisex name?
What names go well with Iman?
What are nicknames or variants of Iman?
About the name Iman
Iman is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Iman's peak popularity came in 1996 when it ranked #1,042. Use the chart and map above to compare Iman's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1996 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.