Fun Facts About the Name Imala
- 28 babies named Imala: U.S. records list 28 babies given the name Imala from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Imala Mean?
Imala does not have a securely established meaning. The name is most familiar from Nigeria, where Imala is the name of a town in Ogun State and of the surrounding district in Yoruba-speaking country, and where it is also used as a personal name. Modern name lists sometimes gloss Imala as "strength" or "strong," but they do not name a Yoruba or other source word behind that sense. Until a source word is identified, that gloss is best read as a customary interpretation rather than a confirmed etymology. No independent origin, such as a Hebrew, Greek, or Latin root, can be supported for this name.
Imala Name History & Origins
Imala is best attested in southwestern Nigeria. The town of Imala, with communities such as Imala-Odo and Imala-Idiemi, lies in Ogun State in Yoruba-speaking territory, and the word is used there as a place name. Imala also appears as a personal name in Nigeria today. How the place name came to be used for people, and whether the personal name derives from a Yoruba word or from the place name itself, is not documented.
A separate and unrelated word that looks similar is the Arabic term imāla (إمالة), which names a vowel shift in Arabic phonetics and recitation; it is a linguistic term, not a personal name, and there is no evidence linking it to people named Imala.
How Popular is the Name Imala?
Imala 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 2005. Its best rank was #14,177 in 2001.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #16,241 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #15,337 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #18,688 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #15,210 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #14,177 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with I
Short Girl Names That Start with I
How the Name Imala 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.
✦ Imala's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Imala's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.