Akan names explained

The Akan people of Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. These "day names" have further meanings concerning the soul and character of the person. Middle names have considerably more variety and can refer to their birth order, twin status, or an ancestor's middle name.

This naming tradition is shared throughout West Africa and the African diaspora. During the 18th–19th centuries, enslaved people in the Caribbean from the region that is modern-day Ghana were referred to as Coromantees. Many of the leaders of enslaved people's rebellions had "day names" including Cuffy, Cuffee or Kofi, Cudjoe or Kojo, Quao or Quaw, and Quamina or Kwame/Kwamina.

Most Ghanaians have at least one name from this system, even if they also have an English or Christian name. Notable figures with day names include Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In the official orthography of the Twi language, the Ashanti versions of these names as spoken in Kumasi are as follows. The diacritics on á a̍ à represent high, mid, and low tone (tone does not need to be marked on every vowel), while the diacritic on a̩ is used for vowel harmony and can be ignored. (Diacritics are frequently dropped in any case.) Variants of the names are used in other languages, or may represent different transliteration schemes. The variants mostly consist of different affixes (in Ashanti, kwa- or ko- for men and a- plus -a or -wa for women). For example, among the Fante, the prefixes are kwe-, kwa or ko for men and e-, a respectively. Akan d̩wo or jo(Fante) is pronounced something like English Joe, but there do appear to be two sets of names for those born on Monday.

Day names

Day born Fante Variants Root Assoc.[1] Jamaican / Fante names[2]
Male name Female name Ndyuka
Sunday
(Kwesida)
Kwasi, Siisi, Akwasi, Kosi;
Akasi, Akosi, Akosiwa, Kwasiba, Awusi, Asi, Ese
Kwasi, Kwasiba Asi Universe Quashie, Quasheba
Monday
(Jowda)
Kodjó, Kojo, Kwadwo, Jojo, Cudjoe;
Adjua, Ajwoba, Adwoba, Adjoa, Adjo, N'adjo, M'adjo, Adjowa, Ajao
Kodyo, Adyuba Dwo Peace Cudjoe, Quajo, Adjoa, Ajuba, Juba
Tuesday
(Benada)
Komlá, Komlã, Komlan, Kabenla, Kobby, Ebo, Kobi, Kobina;
Ablá, Ablã, Abenaa, Araba, Abrema
Abeni Bene Ocean Quabena, Abena, Bena
Wednesday
(Wukuda)
Kukuuwa, Kwaku Koku, Kokou, Kwaku, Abeiku, Kaku, Kuuku, Kwaku;
Akuba, Akú, Ekua, Akuba
Wukuo Spider Quaco, Aqua, Acooba, Cooba
Thursday
(Yahwada)
Yao, Yawo, Yawu, Yawa, Ayawa, Kwaw, Ekow, Kow;
Yaa, Yaaba, Yaba, Aaba, Abina
Yaw, Yaba Ya Earth Quaw, Quao, Aba, Yaaba
Friday
(Fida)
Fiifi, Yoofi;
Afí, Afiba, Afia, Efua, Efe
Kofi, Afiba Afi Fertility Cuffy, Cuffee, Afiba, Fiba
Saturday
(Memeneda)
Kwami, Kuw-ame, Kw-ame, Kwamena, Kw-amina, Komi;
Ame, Ami, Amba, Ameyo
Kwami, Amba Amene God Quame, Quamina, Ama

Naming for twins

There are also special names for elder and younger twins.

The word Panyin means older/elder. Kakra is short for Kakraba which means little/younger one.The definition/description below for the meaning of younger and an elder are backwards or vice versa.

Twin Male name Female name Variants
Twin Atá Ataá Atta
First born ("younger"[3] twin) Ata Panyin Ataá Panyin Panyin
Second born ("elder" twin) Ata kakraKakra, Kakraba
Born after twins Tawia.
Born after Tawia align=center Gaddo Nyankómàgó

Birth-order names

There are also names based on the order of birth, the order born after twins, and the order born after remarriage.

Order Male name Female name
First born align=center colspan=2Píèsíe
Second born Mǎnu Máanu
Third born Meńsã́Mánsã
Fourth born align=center colspan=2Anan, Anané
Fifth born align=center colspan=2Núm, Anúm
Sixth born align=center colspan=2Esĩã́
Seventh born Esuón Nsṍwaa
Eighth born align=center colspan=2Bótwe
Ninth born Ákron, Nkróma Nkróma Nkrũmãh
Tenth born Badú Badúwaa
Eleventh born align=center colspan=2Dúkũ
Twelfth born align=center colspan=2Dúnu
Thirteenth born align=center colspan=2Adusa
Fourteenth born align=center colspan=2Agyeman
Last born align=center colspan=2Kaakyire
First with a
new husband
-->

Special delivery

Children are also given names when delivered under special circumstances.

Circumstance Male/Female name Translation
on the field Efum "The field"
on the road Ɔkwán "The road"
in war Bekṍe, Bedíàkṍ "war time"
happy circumstances Afriyie/Afiríyie "good year"
one who loves Adofo "the special one from God, warrior"
great one Agyenim "the great one from God"
after long childlessness Nyamékyε "gift from God"
premature or sickly Nyaméama "what God has given (no man can take away)"
forceful Kumi "forcefulness"
after death of father Antó "it didn't meet him"
father refuses
responsibility
Obím̀pέ "nobody wants"
Yεmpέw "we don't want you"

Family names

Ashanti people given-names are concluded with a family name (surname) preceded by a given name.[4] [5] The family name (surname) are always given after close relatives and sometimes friends.[4] [5] Since Ashanti names are always given by the men, if a couple receives a son as their first born-baby then the son is named after the father of the husband and if the baby is a girl then she will be named after the mother of the husband.[4] [5] As a result, if the man is called Osei Kofi and his wife gives birth to a girl as their first born, the girl may be called Yaa Dufie even if she was not born on Friday.[4] [5] The reason is that the mother of the husband (Osei Kofi) is called Yaa Dufie.[4] [5] The Ashanti people usually give these names so that the names of close relatives be maintained in the families to show the love for their families.[4] [5]

In the olden days of Ashanti it was a disgrace if an Ashanti man was not able to name any child after his father and/or mother because that was the pride of every Ashanti household.[4] [5] Most of the ethnic-Ashanti family name (surname) given to boys could also be given to girls just by adding the letters "aa".[4] [5] Some Ashanti family names (surnames) can be given to both boys and girls without changing or adding anything.[4] [5] However, there are other ethnic-Ashanti family name (surnames) that are exclusively male names, while others are exclusively female names.[4] [5]

Ethnic-Ashanti family names (surnames)
Ethnic-Ashanti family nameEthnic-Ashanti family nameEthnic-Ashanti family name [6]
1Abeberese84align=center colspan="4"Baafi168Mensah
2MarfoAbeyie85align=center colspan="4"Baah169Mintah
3Aboagye86align=center colspan="4"Bafuor170Misa
4Aboah87align=center colspan="4"Baffoe171Mmorosa
5Aborah88align=center colspan="4"Baako172Mpong
6Aborampah89align=center colspan="4"Baidoo173Munuo
7Abrafi90align=center colspan="4"Barwuah174Narh
8Abrefa91align=center colspan="4"Banahene175Nduom
9Acheampong92align=center colspan="4"Bediako176Nimo Nimoh
10Achamfour93align=center colspan="4"Bekoe177Nkansa Nkansah
11Acquah94align=center colspan="4"Bemah178Nkrumah
12Adade95align=center colspan="4"Boadi179Nsiah
13Addai96align=center colspan="4"Boadu180Nsonwah Nsonwaa
14Addo97align=center colspan="4"Boahen181Nsor
15Adiyiah98align=center colspan="4"Boakye182Ntiamoa Ntiamoah
16Adomah99align=center colspan="4"Boamah183Ntim
17Adomako100align=center colspan="4"Boampong184Ntow
18Adusei101align=center colspan="4"Boasiako185Nuako
19Adwubi102align=center colspan="4"Boateng186Nkruamah
20Afoakwah103align=center colspan="4"Boatei187Nyamekye
21Afreh104align=center colspan="4"Bonah188Nyantah
22Afram105align=center colspan="4"Bonsu189Nyantakyi
23Afrane106align=center colspan="3"Bonsra Bonsrah190Nyarko
24Afrakoma Afrakomah107align=center colspan="4"Brempong191Obeng Oteng
25Afrifa Afirifa108align=center colspan="3"Busia Busiah192Obuor
26Afriyie109align=center colspan="2"Cofie Cuffee Kofi193Oduro
27Afful110align=center colspan="4"Crentsil194Ofori
28Ahinful111align=center colspan="3"Daako Darko195Ofosu
29Arkorful112align=center colspan="3"Dankwah Danquah196Ogyampah
30Agyapong113align=center colspan="4"Danso197Ohemeng
31Agyare114align=center colspan="2"Dapaa Dapaah Depay198Ohene
32Agyei115align=center colspan="4"Diawuo199Okese
33Agyeman Agyemang116align=center colspan="2"Donkor Donkoh Dontoh200Okoromansah
34Aidoo117align=center colspan="4"Domfe201Okyere
35Akenten Akenteng118align=center colspan="4"Dorkenoo202Omenah Omenaa
36Akomeah119align=center colspan="4"Duah203Opambuor
37Akomfrah120align=center colspan="4"Dufie204Opare
38Akosah121align=center colspan="4"Duodu205Opoku
39Akoto122align=center colspan="3"Dwamena Dwamenah206Oppong
40Akuamoah123align=center colspan="4"Dwomoh207Opuni
41Akuffo124align=center colspan="4"Ekuoba208Osafo
42Akrofi125align=center colspan="4"Enninful209Osam
43Akyaw126align=center colspan="4"Essien210Otuo
44Amakye127align=center colspan="4"Farkyi211Osei
45Amamfo128align=center colspan="4"Firikyi212Owoahene
46Amankona Amankonah129align=center colspan="4"Fofie213Owusu
47Amankwah130align=center colspan="4"Fokuo214Oyiakwan
48Ameyaw131align=center colspan="4"Fordjour215Paintsil
49Amissah132align=center colspan="4"Forobuor216Pappoe
50Amoabeng133align=center colspan="3"Fredua Freduah217Peprah
51Amoah134align=center colspan="4"Fremah218Pinaman
52Amoako135align=center colspan="2"Frimpong Frempon Frempong219Poku
53Amoateng136align=center colspan="4"Gyakari220Prempeh
54Amofah137align=center colspan="2"Gyan Djan Djansi221Quainoo
55Ampadu138align=center colspan="3"Gyamera Gyamerah222Quansah
56Ampem139align=center colspan="3"Gyamah Gyaama223Safo Sarfo
57Ampofo140align=center colspan="4"Gyamfi224Sakyi
58Amponsah141align=center colspan="4"Gyambibi225Sarkodie
59Amponsem142align=center colspan="4"Gyasi226Sarpei Yartei
60Andoh143align=center colspan="4"Gyeabuor227Sarpon Sarpong
61Ankobiah144align=center colspan="4"Gyimah228Sasraku
62Ankomah145align=center colspan="4"Inkoom229Siabuor
63Ankrah146align=center colspan="4"Karikari230Siaw
147Katakyie231align=center colspan="4"Sika
65Anokye148align=center colspan="4"Kenu232Sikafuo
66Ansah149align=center colspan="4"Koduah233Sintim
67Apori Antwi150align=center colspan="4"Kokote234Siriboe
68Apau151align=center colspan="4"Konadu235Soadwa Soadwah
69Appiah152align=center colspan="3"Koranten Koranteng236Sowah
70Asamoah153align=center colspan="4"Korsah237Tagoe
71Asante Asantewaa154align=center colspan="4"Kouassi238Takyi
72Asare155align=center colspan="3"Kufuor Kuffour239Tandoh
73Asenso156align=center colspan="4"Kumankama240Tawiah
74Ashia157align=center colspan="3"Kusi Kusiwaa241Tuffour
Tutu
75Asiamah158Kwaata242Twasam
76Asiedu159Kwakye243Tweneboa Tweneboah
77Asomadu160Kwateng Kwarteng244Twerefuo
77Asomaning161Kwayie245Twum Twumasi
79Asubonteng163align=center colspan="4"Kyekyeku247Wiafe Wiredu
AssuminAssumingKyem
80Ayeh164Kyereme248Yamoah
81Ayensu165Kyerematen Kyeremateng249Yankah
82Ayew166Kyerewa Kesewaa250Yeboah
83Awuah167Manso251Yiadom<--249 Yeniam--><--where does this belong in the table? -->

References

  1. Bartle. Philip F. W. . Forty Days: The Akan Calendar. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 48. 1. 80–84. Edinburgh University Press. January 1978. 10.2307/1158712. 1158712. 143751434 .
  2. Neita, Lance, "So what's in a name?", Jamaica Observer, 29 August 2014.
  3. For the Akan, the first-born twin is considered the younger, as the elder is thought to have stayed behind to help the younger out.
  4. Web site: List of Ashanti (Twi, Asante) Names. afropedea.org. 2016-03-02. 2017-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043315/http://www.afropedea.org/akan-names. dead.
  5. Web site: The Sociolinguistic of Ashanti Personal Names. PDF. njas.helsinki.fi. 2016-03-02. 2021-02-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20210220021422/http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol15num2/agyekum.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: The Ashanti and their names . asanteman.freeservers.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140314103015/http://asanteman.freeservers.com/contact.html . 14 March 2014 .

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Additional references

See also