Arabic name meaning faith or belief.
Imaan — also spelled Iman or Iman — derives from the Arabic root a-m-n, which gives the language words for security, trust, and belief. As a noun, iman is one of the central concepts of Islamic theology, referring to faith itself: not merely religious observance but the deep inner conviction of the heart. To name a child Imaan is to inscribe that aspiration into their identity, a wish that they will move through the world with both spiritual grounding and the steadiness that genuine belief confers.
The name has been borne by numerous notable figures across the Muslim world, but perhaps its most globally recognized carrier is the Somali-American supermodel Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, known simply as Iman, whose decades-long career and marriage to David Bowie brought the name into international consciousness. In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East African countries with significant Muslim populations, Imaan is common for both girls and boys, though it skews predominantly feminine globally. The doubled-a spelling signals the long vowel of Arabic pronunciation and is especially common in South Asia and the diaspora.
In recent years, Imaan has gained traction well beyond its traditional communities, appreciated by non-Muslim parents drawn to its meaning and its clean, modern sound. The name's association with faith as a universal human experience — rather than any denominational specificity — gives it a cross-cultural warmth. It sounds equally at home in Karachi, Nairobi, London, or Toronto, a name that travels without losing itself.