Imana as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Imana

What is the meaning of the name Imana ?

The baby name Imana is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ee-MAH-nah.

Imana is in Origin.

Imana has layered roots. In Kinyarwanda and Kirundi (Rwanda and Burundi), Imana is the name of the supreme deity, so as a given name it conveys “God,” “divine,” or “of God.” While the standalone form is newer as a personal name, it underpins many theophoric Rwandan names (e.g., Imanishimwe “thanks to God,” Ndayisenga “I pray to God”). Modern usage is generally unisex and appears both in the Great Lakes region and among the African diaspora.

In Arabic-influenced traditions, Imana is also viewed as a feminine elaboration of Iman (Arabic: īmān, “faith”), aligning with variants such as Imane (Maghrebi/French usage) and the Swahili-derived Imani. Thus its meanings cluster around “faith” and “divinity.” Iman has long-standing use across the Muslim world; Imani rose in late-20th-century global popularity, and Imana emerged more recently as a cross-cultural, melodious alternative. Related forms: Iman, Imane, Imani; short forms include Ima and Mana.