Cali vs Imani

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cali

Girl #495 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"beautiful"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

American Spanish Greek

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#495
Total SSA Count
618
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Cal

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Cali →

Imani

Girl #526 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"faith"

Origin: Swahili

Cultural Roots

Swahili African American East African American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#526
Total SSA Count
583
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Mani, Ima

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Imani →

Popularity Comparison

Cali Rank #495
Imani Rank #526

Cali is more popular, ranked #495 vs #526 for Imani.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Cali ___

  • Cali Rose
  • Cali Mae
  • Cali Jean
  • Cali Jade
  • Cali Ann
  • Cali Skye

Imani ___

  • Imani Grace
  • Imani Rose
  • Imani Joy
  • Imani Nicole
  • Imani Simone
  • Imani Danielle

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Cali

Beau Cruz Bodhi Sienna Mila

If you choose Imani

Amara Zuri Kofi Amani Nia

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cali or Imani more popular?

Cali is more popular, ranked #495 compared to Imani at #526 in the United States.

What do Cali and Imani mean?

Cali means "beautiful" (Greek origin). Imani means "faith" (Swahili origin).

Are Cali and Imani boy or girl names?

Cali is primarily a girl name. Imani is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Cali ← Full profile: Imani Browse all baby names