Girl Name
Ima
Ima is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Ima is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Ima often also consider Ina.
Ima meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Ima has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Ima as I·M·A, with 3 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Ima is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Ima variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Imaa, Imae, Imay, Im.
- Nicknames: Ima works as its own nickname.
- Middle names: Pair Ima with a middle name that balances its short sound; start with the Ima middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Ina, Ian, Iona, Ione, Iain — full picks on the sibling names for Ima guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Ima? Browse our names like Ima guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Ima
What does the name Ima mean?
Ima has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Ima?
The exact origin of Ima is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Ima?
Ima has 3 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Ima a boy's or girl's name?
Ima is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Ima in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Ima sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Ima?
Names that share Ima's sound and style include Ina, Ian, Iona, Ione, Iain.
What middle names pair well with Ima?
Good middle-name fits for Ima pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Ima is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Ima is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Ima?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Ima share its rhythm without rhyming — Ina, Ian, Iona all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.