Unisex name · peaked 1996

Iman

A unisex given name from Arabic.

Every Iman since 1972 — 6,609 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#2,072
among girls
Babies in 2025
180
named Iman
Peak year
1996
209 babies
All-time total
6,609
since 1972

The story of Iman

Iman is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,072 in 2025 with 91 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1972, 6,609 American babies have been named Iman — about 78% girls and 22% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1996, when 209 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Iman stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Iman year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 91 #2,072 89 #1,798
2024 92 #2,086 84 #1,895
2023 81 #2,278 61 #2,298
2022 109 #1,859 81 #1,925
2021 84 #2,219 82 #1,876
2020 104 #1,864 50 #2,565
2019 108 #1,868 66 #2,156
2018 85 #2,196 73 #2,003
2017 105 #1,922 40 #2,971
2016 106 #1,902 28 #3,819
2015 105 #1,924 28 #3,816
2014 112 #1,823 21 #4,602
2013 96 #2,025 27 #3,794
2012 98 #1,988 19 #4,926
2011 117 #1,749 13 #6,373
2010 108 #1,878 21 #4,581
2009 146 #1,551 13 #6,568
2008 164 #1,441 28 #3,773
2007 117 #1,817 18 #5,084
2006 156 #1,443 19 #4,754
2005 137 #1,514 18 #4,705
2004 173 #1,253 19 #4,483
2003 169 #1,246 31 #3,065
2002 157 #1,259 29 #3,137
2001 162 #1,239 22 #3,770
2000 174 #1,158 35 #2,643
1995 144 #1,194 25 #2,877
1990 96 #1,580 14 #4,061
1985 53 #2,028 14 #3,285
1980 36 #2,619 25 #2,136
1975 8 #6,733 5 #5,816
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Iman

  1. Iman Model · b. 1955
  2. Iman Shumpert Basketball player · b. 1990

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Iman mean?

A unisex given name from Arabic.

How popular is the name Iman in 2025?

Iman ranked #2,072 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 91 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Iman?

6,609 babies have been named Iman in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Iman most popular?

Iman peaked in 1996, when 209 newborns received the name.

Is Iman a boy or girl name?

Iman is used for both: about 78% of babies named Iman have been girls and 22% boys.

Is the name Iman rising or falling?

Iman has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Iman?

Well-known people named Iman include Iman (model), Iman Shumpert (basketball player).

Names like Iman

Compare Iman with similar names →