Fun Facts About the Name Imad
- 569 babies named Imad: U.S. records list 569 babies given the name Imad from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Imad Mean?
Imad is an Arabic masculine name meaning 'pillar' or 'support.' It comes from the Arabic noun ʿimād (عماد), which denotes a pillar, post, or prop, and from the root ʿ-m-d, which carries the sense of supporting or holding up. The literal meaning is a physical pillar or mainstay. In personal names, the word is also used in the customary sense of a support or reliable mainstay, but that is an extension of the same basic meaning rather than a separate origin. Imad appears as the first element in compound names such as ʿImād al-Dīn (Imad al-Din), meaning 'pillar of the faith' or 'pillar of religion.'
Imad Name History & Origins
Imad is a direct Arabic given name taken from the common noun ʿimād, so its development is tied to the use of that Arabic word as a personal name. The word itself appears in classical Arabic, including in the Quranic phrase Iram dhāt al-ʿimād (89:7), usually rendered 'Iram of the pillars.' That verse uses ʿimād as a common noun, not as a personal name, but it shows the word in early Arabic usage.
In medieval Arabic naming practice, many names were formed from ordinary nouns and adjectives without a theophoric element, and Imad belongs to this group. The related compound ʿImād al-Dīn, meaning 'pillar of the faith,' became a common honorific and personal name. Historical bearers include Imad al-Din Zengi, the 12th-century Zengid ruler, and the historian Imad al-Din al-Isfahani. The standalone form Imad is also recorded in Arabic biographical works and is used in modern Arabic-speaking countries and in Muslim communities elsewhere. Because Arabic short vowels are usually not written and transliteration systems differ, English spellings vary, including Imad, Emad, and Imaad.
How Popular is the Name Imad?
Imad has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2001. Its best rank was #3,805 in 1994.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,922 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2024 | #5,987 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #7,056 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #9,312 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #6,463 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #7,725 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,853 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #6,151 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #6,451 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #6,877 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #7,249 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #7,227 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #7,733 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #5,337 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #8,320 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #6,492 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,563 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #4,963 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #5,083 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #7,638 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #5,394 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #5,094 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #4,335 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #5,857 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #3,894 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #5,138 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #5,446 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #4,743 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #5,419 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #4,711 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #4,363 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #3,805 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #6,441 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #5,018 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #5,683 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,262 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #5,339 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,404 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #4,378 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,145 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #3,902 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #5,872 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #4,663 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #4,063 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #5,163 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #5,047 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #3,977 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #5,408 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Imad Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Imad's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Imad's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.