Rising since 1993, #2,998 for girls today.
Popularity of Imara since 1990
Babies named Imara per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 102 |
| 2000s | 169 |
| 2010s | 191 |
| 2020s | 258 |
Meaning & origin
Imara, meaning 'strong' or 'firm' in Swahili, was first recorded in the United States in 1990 and has been steadily rising in popularity since 1993. As of 2025, it ranks 2998 with 1 in 29,223 newborns receiving the name, having peaked in 2023. Its usage is most concentrated in California and Texas, reflecting both its African roots and modern multicultural appeal. The name's trajectory suggests it is gaining recognition as a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with substance and global resonance.
Imara is a name of Swahili origin meaning 'strong' or 'firm,' rooted in the Bantu language family. It is also related to the Arabic 'amara' (عمارة) meaning 'a building' or 'architecture,' though the Swahili meaning is more directly tied to strength and resilience. The name has been in use in East Africa for generations and has seen increased adoption in the United States since the 1990s, reflecting a wider trend of borrowing names from diverse cultural origins.
Where Imara is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Imara” around the world
Where Imara lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Imi, Mara, Ara
Variants: Amara
Sibling names for Imara
Names that share Imara's style, for a brother or sister.
