Fun Facts About the Name Imari
- More than 3 thousand babies named Imari: U.S. records list 3,450 babies given the name Imari from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,085 boys received the name Imari - about 1 boy for every 2 girls.
What Does the Name Imari Mean?
Imari is a given name with more than one possible background and no single securely documented etymology. The source most often cited is the Swahili word imara, meaning "strong," "firm," or "resolute"; Imari is generally explained as a form of that word-name, though the link is not certain. A separate and unrelated association comes from Japan, where Imari (伊万里) is a place name in Saga Prefecture. As a Japanese place name it is not a compound with a settled literal meaning, and outside Japan it is best known through Imari porcelain. In English-speaking countries, Imari is used as a given name for both boys and girls, often alongside similar-sounding names such as Amari and Imara. Those names have their own etymologies and should not be assumed to share an origin with Imari.
Imari Name History & Origins
The Japanese place name Imari belongs to a coastal city in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. From the seventeenth century, porcelain produced in the nearby Arita area was exported through the port of Imari, and European traders came to call the ware Imari after the port. "Imari ware" remains a standard term for that Japanese porcelain. This is the name's clearest presence in Western languages, but it refers to a place and a ceramic rather than to an early personal name.
The given name Imari is used in the United States and other English-speaking countries for both boys and girls. It circulates alongside similar-sounding names such as Amari and Imara, and in East Africa it is sometimes connected to the Swahili word imara, meaning "strong" or "firm." Which of these sources, if any, the English-language given name comes from is not documented, and the name has no single agreed origin.
How Popular is the Name Imari?
Imari 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 2003. Its best rank was #1,545 in 2000.
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 | #5,469 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #5,490 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2023 | #6,255 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #5,847 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #7,400 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #4,206 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2019 | #6,830 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2018 | #6,355 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #5,427 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #4,118 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2015 | #5,903 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #5,865 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #3,662 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2012 | #3,285 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 2011 | #3,154 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2010 | #3,055 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 2009 | #2,537 | 74 | 0.0040% |
| 2008 | #2,178 | 92 | 0.0049% |
| 2007 | #2,404 | 79 | 0.0041% |
| 2006 | #2,196 | 88 | 0.0046% |
| 2005 | #2,128 | 87 | 0.0047% |
| 2004 | #1,888 | 100 | 0.0054% |
| 2003 | #1,555 | 124 | 0.0068% |
| 2002 | #1,760 | 103 | 0.0057% |
| 2001 | #1,548 | 120 | 0.0067% |
| 2000 | #1,545 | 116 | 0.0064% |
| 1999 | #1,903 | 83 | 0.0047% |
| 1998 | #1,546 | 108 | 0.0061% |
| 1997 | #1,645 | 96 | 0.0055% |
| 1996 | #1,647 | 93 | 0.0053% |
| 1995 | #1,609 | 93 | 0.0053% |
| 1994 | #1,815 | 79 | 0.0044% |
| 1993 | #1,859 | 77 | 0.0043% |
| 1992 | #2,135 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1991 | #2,328 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 1990 | #3,311 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #3,428 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1988 | #3,111 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1987 | #4,358 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #2,799 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1985 | #5,468 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,310 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #4,006 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #3,658 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #2,932 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2021 | #3,383 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2020 | #2,566 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2019 | #3,014 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2018 | #4,037 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2017 | #2,972 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2016 | #2,949 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2015 | #2,539 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2014 | #4,602 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #7,734 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #4,182 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #3,390 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2010 | #3,102 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #2,718 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2008 | #3,863 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #3,333 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 2006 | #5,169 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #3,342 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #3,571 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2003 | #2,695 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2002 | #2,904 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2001 | #3,550 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #3,242 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,619 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #2,817 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #3,797 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #5,706 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #3,482 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #3,806 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #3,557 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #3,820 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #4,591 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #6,057 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #6,492 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #6,031 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,414 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #5,569 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #5,767 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,344 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #4,802 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #5,817 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #2,075 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #3,848 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #4,660 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #4,142 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #4,138 | 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.
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How the Name Imari 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Imari's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Imari's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.