Imani vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

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 →

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

Imani Rank #526
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #526 for Imani.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Imani ___

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

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Imani

Amara Zuri Kofi Amani Nia

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

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 Imani or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Imani at #526 in the United States.

What do Imani and James mean?

Imani means "faith" (Swahili origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Imani and James boy or girl names?

Imani is primarily a girl name. James is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

James vs Imani Imani vs Annalise Imani vs Mariam Imani vs Sylvie Imani vs Colette
← Full profile: Imani ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names