Imo
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially meaning "traveler" or "wanderer".
Name Census estimates that about 81 living Americans carry the first name Imo. It is a predominantly female name (99.4% of registrations). The average person named Imo today is around 84 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Imo births was 1922 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Imo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Imo is about 84 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Imos were born before 1952.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Imo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
81
~ 1 in 4,231,535 Americans
Peak year
1922
34 babies that year
Average age
84
years old
1983 SSA rank
#6,454
Tracked since 1885
Gender
Gender distribution for Imo
Out of the 908 babies given the name Imo since 1880, 99.4% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Imo as a male name
- Ranked #6,672 in 1983
- 5 male births in 1983
- Peak: 1983 (5 births)
Imo as a female name
- Ranked #6,454 in 1957
- 5 female births in 1957
- Peak: 1922 (34 births)
Popularity
Imo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Imo from the 1880s through to the 1980s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 286 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Imo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Imo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Imos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas recorded the most babies named Imo, while Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Imo
The name Imo has its origins in the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. The word "imo" translates to "knowledge" or "understanding" in the Igbo language. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, when the Igbo people established their cultural identity in the region.
The name Imo is closely associated with the Igbo philosophy of valuing wisdom, education, and intellectual pursuits. In traditional Igbo society, individuals with this name were often regarded as seekers of knowledge and were expected to uphold the community's values of learning and enlightenment.
While there are no specific historical references to the name Imo in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been a part of the Igbo cultural tradition for centuries. The earliest recorded examples of the name can be traced back to the 16th century, when written records of Igbo names began to appear.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Imo was Imo Ekpere, a renowned Igbo leader and philosopher who lived in the late 16th century. He was known for his wisdom and his contributions to the development of Igbo philosophical thought.
Another notable figure in history with the name Imo was Imo Eze, a celebrated Igbo artist and sculptor who lived in the 18th century. His intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicted various aspects of Igbo culture and were highly regarded for their artistic excellence.
In the 19th century, Imo Okere was a prominent Igbo trader and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the expansion of trade networks across West Africa. His business acumen and strategic partnerships helped to strengthen economic ties between the Igbo people and neighboring communities.
Imo Okafor, born in 1885, was a pioneering Igbo educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in southeastern Nigeria and worked tirelessly to promote equal educational opportunities for women in her community.
Imo Basden, born in 1901, was a renowned Igbo anthropologist and scholar who dedicated his life to studying and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people. His seminal work, "Among the Ibos of Nigeria," is considered a groundbreaking contribution to the field of anthropology.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Imo, each leaving a lasting impact on their respective fields and communities.
People
Imo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Imo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Imo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Imo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 81 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Imo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,231,535 US residents.
Is Imo a common name?
We classify Imo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 908 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Imo most popular?
The single biggest year for Imo was 1922, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Imo is about 84 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Imo a female name?
Yes, 99.4% of people registered as Imo in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.