Akan names

The Akan people of Ghana, Ivory Coast, 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

[edit]

Day born | Ashanti | Variants | Root | Assoc.[1] | Fante names[2]

|
|
|
|
|

Male name | Female name |  | Ndyuka
Sunday
(Kwesida) | Kwesi | Akosua,[3] Esi | Kwasi,[3] Siisi, Akwasi, Kosi;
Akasi, Akosi, Akosiwa, Kwasiba, Awusi, Asi,[3] Ese[3] | Kwasi, Kwasiba | Asi | Universe | Quashie, Quasheba
Monday
(Jowda) | Kojo[3] | Adwoa[3] | Kodjó, Kojo, Kwadwo,[3] Jojo, Cudjoe;
Adjua, Ajwoba, Adwoba, Adjoa, Adjo, N'adjo, M'adjo, Adjowa, Ajao[3] | Kodyo, Adyuba | Dwo | Peace | Cudjoe, Quajo, Adjoa, Ajuba, Juba
Tuesday
(Benada) | Kwabena,[3] Ebo | Abena[3] | Komlá, Komlã, Komlan, Kabenla, Kobby, Ebo, Kobi, Kobina;[3]
Ablá, Ablã, Abenaa, Araba,[3] Abrema  | Abeni | Bene | Ocean | Quabena, Abena, Bena
Wednesday
(Wukuda) | Kweku, Yooku | Akua[3] | Kukuuwa, Kwaku[3] | Koku, Kokou, Kwaku, Abeiku, Kaku, Kuuku, Kwaku;
Akuba, Akú, Ekua, Akuba | Wukuo | Spider (Sky) | Quaco, Aqua, Acooba, Cooba
Thursday
(Yahwada) | Yaw | Yaa[3] | Yao,[3] Yawo, Yawu, Yawa, Ayawa, Kwaw, Ekow,[3] Kow;
Yaa,[3] Yaaba, Yaba, Aaba, Abina  | Yaw, Yaba | Ya | Earth | Quaw, Quao, Aba, Yaaba
Friday
(Fida) | Kofi[3] | Afua[3] | Fiifi, Yoofi;
Afí, Afiba, Afia,[3] Efua,[3] Efe | Kofi, Afiba | Afi | Fertility | Cuffy, Cuffee, Afiba, Fiba
Saturday
(Memeneda) | Kwame[3] | Amba, Ama[3] | Kwami, Kuw-ame, Kw-ame, Kwamena,[3] Kw-amina, Komi;
Ame, Ami, Amba, Amma, Ameyo | Kwami, Amba | Amene | God | Quame, Quamina, Ama

## Naming for twins

[edit]

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 is backwards or vice versa.

Twin | Male name | Female name | Variants

|
|
|

Twin | Attá | Ataá | Atta
Firstborn ("elder"[4] twin) | Atta Panyin | Attá Panyin | Panyin
Second born ("younger" twin) | Atta kakra | Kakra, Kakraba |
Born after twins | Tawia. |
Born after Tawia | Gaddo | Nyankómàgó |

## Birth-order names

[edit]

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 | Píèsíe
Second born | Mǎnu | Máanu
Third born | Meńsã́ | Mánsã
Fourth born | Anan, Anané
Fifth born | Núm, Anúm
Sixth born | Esĩã́
Seventh born | Esuón | Nsṍwaa
Eighth born | Bótwe
Ninth born | Ákron, Nkróma | Nkróma Nkrũmãh
Tenth born | Badú | Badúwaa
Eleventh born | Dúkũ
Twelfth born | Dúnu
Thirteenth born | Adusa
Fourteenth born | Agyeman
Last born | Kaakyire

## Special delivery

[edit]

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

[edit]

Ashanti people given-names are concluded with a family name (surname) preceded by a given name.[5][6] The family name (surname) are always given after close relatives and sometimes friends.[5][6] 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.[5][6] 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.[5][6] The reason is that the mother of the husband (Osei Kofi) is called Yaa Dufie.[5][6] 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.[5][6]

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.[5][6] Most of the ethnic-Ashanti family name (surname) given to boys could also be given to girls just by adding the letters "aa".[5][6] Some Ashanti family names (surnames) can be given to both boys and girls without changing or adding anything.[5][6] However, there are other ethnic-Ashanti family name (surnames) that are exclusively male names, while others are exclusively female names.[5][6]

Ethnic-Ashanti family names (surnames)[5][6][7] |  | #  | Ethnic-Ashanti family name[5][6][7] |  | #  | Ethnic-Ashanti family name[5][6][7] |  | #  | Ethnic-Ashanti family name [5][6][7] |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Abeberese  | 84  | Baafi  | 168  | Mensah
2|Marfo  | Abeyie  | 85  | Baah  | 169  | Mintah
3  | Aboagye  | 86  | Bafuor  | 170  | Misa
4  | Aboah  | 87  | Baffoe  | 171  | Mmorosa
5  | Aborah  | 88  | Baako  | 172  | Mpong
6  | Aborampah  | 89  | Baidoo  | 173  | Munuo
7  | Abrafi  | 90  | Barwuah  | 174  | Narh
8  | Abrefa  | 91  | Banahene  | 175  | Nduom
9  | Acheampong  | 92  | Bediako  | 176  | Nimo | Nimoh
10  | Achamfour  | 93  | Bekoe  | 177  | Nkansa | Nkansah
11  | Acquah  | 94  | Bemah  | 178  | Nkrumah
12  | Adade  | 95  | Boadi  | 179  | Nsiah
13  | Addai  | 96  | Boadu  | 180  | Nsonwah | Nsonwaa
14  | Addo  | 97  | Boahen  | 181  | Nsor
15  | Adiyiah  | 98  | Boakye  | 182  | Ntiamoa | Ntiamoah
16  | Adomah  | 99  | Boamah  | 183  | Ntim
17  | Adomako  | 100  | Boampong  | 184  | Ntow
18  | Adusei  | 101  | Boasiako  | 185  | Nuako
19  | Adwubi  | 102  | Boateng  | 186  | Nkruamah
20  | Afoakwah  | 103  | Boatei  | 187  | Nyamekye
21  | Afreh  | 104  | Bonah  | 188  | Nyantah
22  | Afram  | 105  | Bonsu  | 189  | Nyantakyi
23  | Afrane  | 106  | Bonsra | Bonsrah  | 190  | Nyarko
24  | Afrakoma | Afrakomah  | 107  | Brempong  | 191  | Obeng | Oteng
25  | Afrifa | Afirifa  | 108  | Busia | Busiah  | 192  | Obuor
26  | Afriyie  | 109  | Cofie | Cuffee | Kofi  | 193  | Oduro
27  | Afful  | 110  | Crentsil  | 194  | Ofori
28  | Ahinful  | 111  | Daako | Darko  | 195  | Ofosu
29  | Arkorful  | 112  | Dankwah | Danquah  | 196  | Ogyampah
30  | Agyapong  | 113  | Danso  | 197  | Ohemeng
31  | Agyare  | 114  | Dapaa | Dapaah | Depay  | 198  | Ohene
32  | Agyei  | 115  | Diawuo  | 199  | Okese
33  | Agyeman | Agyemang  | 116  | Donkor | Donkoh | Dontoh  | 200  | Okoromansah
34  | Aidoo  | 117  | Domfe  | 201  | Okyere
35  | Akenten | Akenteng  | 118  | Dorkenoo  | 202  | Omenah | Omenaa
36  | Akomeah  | 119  | Duah  | 203  | Opambuor
37  | Akomfrah  | 120  | Dufie  | 204  | Opare
38  | Akosah  | 121  | Duodu  | 205  | Opoku
39  | Akoto  | 122  | Dwamena | Dwamenah  | 206  | Oppong
40  | Akuamoah  | 123  | Dwomoh  | 207  | Opuni
41  | Akuffo  | 124  | Ekuoba  | 208  | Osafo
42  | Akrofi  | 125  | Enninful  | 209  | Osam
43  | Akyaw  | 126  | Essien  | 210  | Otuo
44  | Amakye  | 127  | Farkyi  | 211  | Osei
45  | Amamfo  | 128  | Firikyi  | 212  | Owoahene
46  | Amankona | Amankonah  | 129  | Fofie  | 213  | Owusu
47  | Amankwah  | 130  | Fokuo  | 214  | Oyiakwan
48  | Ameyaw  | 131  | Fordjour  | 215  | Paintsil
49  | Amissah  | 132  | Forobuor  | 216  | Pappoe
50  | Amoabeng  | 133  | Fredua | Freduah  | 217  | Peprah
51  | Amoah  | 134  | Fremah  | 218  | Pinaman
52  | Amoako  | 135  | Frimpong | Frempon | Frempong  | 219  | Poku
53  | Amoateng  | 136  | Gyakari  | 220  | Prempeh
54  | Amofah  | 137  | Gyan | Djan | Djansi  | 221  | Quainoo
55  | Ampadu  | 138  | Gyamera | Gyamerah  | 222  | Quansah
56  | Ampem  | 139  | Gyamah | Gyaama  | 223  | Safo | Sarfo
57  | Ampofo  | 140  | Gyamfi  | 224  | Sakyi
58  | Amponsah  | 141  | Gyambibi  | 225  | Sarkodie
59  | Amponsem  | 142  | Gyasi  | 226  | Sarpei | Yartei
60  | Andoh  | 143  | Gyeabuor  | 227  | Sarpon | Sarpong
61  | Ankobiah  | 144  | Gyimah  | 228  | Sasraku
62  | Ankomah  | 145  | Inkoom  | 229  | Siabuor
63  | Ankrah  | 146  | Karikari  | 230  | Siaw
147  | Katakyie  | 231  | Sika
65  | Anokye  | 148  | Kenu  | 232  | Sikafuo
66  | Ansah  | 149  | Koduah  | 233  | Sintim
67  | Apori Antwi  | 150  | Kokote  | 234  | Siriboe
68  | Apau  | 151  | Konadu  | 235  | Soadwa | Soadwah
69  | Appiah  | 152  | Koranten | Koranteng  | 236  | Sowah
70  | Asamoah  | 153  | Korsah  | 237  | Tagoe
71  | Asante | Asantewaa  | 154  | Kouassi  | 238  | Takyi
72  | Asare  | 155  | Kufuor | Kuffour  | 239  | Tandoh
73  | Asenso  | 156  | Kumankama  | 240  | Tawiah
74  | Ashia  | 157  | Kusi | Kusiwaa  | 241  | Tuffour
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Tutu
75  | Asiamah  | 158  | Kwaata  | 242  | Twasam
76  | Asiedu  | 159  | Kwakye  | 243  | Tweneboa | Tweneboah
77  | Asomadu  | 160  | Kwateng | Kwarteng  | 244  | Twerefuo
77  | Asomaning  | 161  | Kwayie  | 245  | Twum | Twumasi
79  | Asubonteng  | 163  | Kyekyeku  | 247  | Wiafe | Wiredu
| Assumin  | Assuming  |  | Kyem  |  |  |
80  | Ayeh  | 164  | Kyereme  | 248  | Yamoah
81  | Ayensu  | 165  | Kyerematen | Kyeremateng  | 249  | Yankah
82  | Ayew  | 166  | Kyerewa | Kesewaa  | 250  | Yeboah
83  | Awuah  | 167  | Manso  | 251  | Yiadom

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bartle, Philip F. W. (January 1978). "Forty Days: The Akan Calendar". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 48 (1). Edinburgh University Press: 80–84\. doi:10.2307/1158712. JSTOR 1158712. S2CID 143751434.
2. ^ Neita, Lance, "So what's in a name?", Jamaica Observer, 29 August 2014.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Philip Briggs (2001). Ghana: The Bradt Travel Guide (2nd ed.). Bradt. p. 13\. ISBN 1-84162-030-0.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "List of Ashanti (Twi, Asante) Names". afropedea.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Sociolinguistic of Ashanti Personal Names" (PDF). njas.helsinki.fi (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
7. ^ a b c d "The Ashanti and their names". asanteman.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014.

## Additional references

[edit]

* J. E. Redden and N. Owusu (1963, 1995). Twi Basic Course. Foreign Service Institute (Hippocrene reprint).[1]ISBN 0-7818-0394-2
* Florence Abena Dolphyne (1996). A Comprehensive Course in Twi (Asante) for the Non-Twi Learner. Accra: Ghana Universities Press. ISBN 9964302452
* Akan Teleteaching course
* Aukan Library (Ndyuka)

## See also

[edit]

* Ghanaian name

* v
* t
* e

Akan topics

Demographics|

* Akan people
* List of Akan people
* Ndyuka (Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana • Coffy (person))
* Coromantee (Jamaica)
* Baoule (Ivory Coast)
* Afro-Barbadians (Barbados)
* Afro-Bahamians (The Bahamas)
* Afro–Costa Ricans (Costa Rica)
* Afro-Panamanians (Panama)
* Afro-Dominicans (Dominica) (Dominica)
* Afro–Antiguans and Barbudans
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Barbudans
* Afro-Jamaicans (Jamaica)

Subgroups|

* Ashanti
* Akuapem
* Fante
* Abbe
* Abidji
* Adjoukrou
* Ahafo
* Ahanta
* Akwamu
* Akyem
* Anyi
* Aowin
* Assin
* Attie
* Avatime
* Avikam
* Baoule
* Bono
* Chokosi
* Coromantee
* Denkyira
* Evalue
* Kwahu
* M'Bato
* Ndyuka
* Nzema
* Sefwi
* Tchaman
* Wasa

Linguistics
(language)|

* Central Tano languages
* Akan languages
* Fante
* Twi
* Akuapem
* Asante
* Bono
* Wasa
* Bia languages
* North Bia
* Anyin
* Baoulé
* Chakosi
* Sehwi
* South Bia
* Ahanta
* Jwira-Pepesa
* Nzema
* Lagoon languages
* Abé
* Abidji
* Adjukru
* Attié
* Avikam–Alladian
* Alladian
* Avikam
* Ega
* Potou languages
* Ebrié
* M'Bato
* Avatime language
* Adamorobe Sign Language
* Nanabin Sign Language
* Akan Orthography Committee

Politics|

* Rulers of Adanse
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akuapem
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akuapem Okere
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akuapem Anafo
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akuapem Guan
* Rulers of Akwamu and Twifo-Heman
* Rulers of Akyem Abuakwa
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akyem Bosume
* Rulers of the Akan state of Akyem Kotoku
* Rulers of the Akan state of Assin Apimenem
* Rulers of the Akan state of Assin Atadanso
* Rulers of the Akan state of Bono-Tekyiman
* Rulers of Denkyira
* Rulers of the Akan state of Dwaben
* Rulers of the Akan state of Manya Krobo
* Rulers of Gyaaman
* Rulers of the Fante Confederation
* Rulers of Asante
* Asantehene (Manhyia Palace • Akan chieftaincy)

| Political party|

* New Patriotic Party (NPP)

|

Culture|

| Topics|

* Akan Art
* Akan Goldweights
* Akan calendar

|

Faiths|

* Akan Religion (Nyame)
* Akan Judaism

Deities|

* Nyame
* Asasa Ya
* Abosom
* Anansi

Music|

* Hiplife
* Akan Drum

Festivals|

* Akwasidae Festival
* Ashanti Yam Festival
* Adae Festival
* Awukudae Festival
* Fancy Dress Festival
* Aboakyer Festival
* Akwambo Festival
* Apoo Festival
* Bakatue Festival
* Fetu Afahye Festival
* Fofie Yam Festival
* Gmayem Festival
* Kobine Festival
* Kundum Festival
* Mmoaninko Festival

Geography

| Geographic entities|

* Akosombo (Akosombo Dam • Kpong Dam)
* Atewa Range (Kwahu Plateau)
* Birim River (Pra River • Lake Bosumtwi)
* Cape Three Points
* Bobowasi Island
* Dodi Island

|

Territories|

* Ashanti
* Brong-Ahafo
* Central Ashantiland
* Eastern Ashantiland
* Greater Accra
* Western Ashantiland

Major settlements|

* Kumasi (Obuasi)

Historic states|

* Efutu
* Akyem
* Bosome
* Abuakwa
* Kotoku
* Adanse
* Akuapem
* Akwamu
* Twifo-Heman
* Asen
* Mankessim
* Fante
* Dwabena
* Gyaman
* Abron
* Bono
* Denkyira
* Ashanti Empire (Asanteman) (Ashantis)

Titles|

* Oheneba

Wikipedia|

* Akan Wikipedia

Category

* v
* t
* e

Personal names and anthroponymy

Personal name|

* Birth name
* Given name
* Surname
* patrilineal
* matrilineal
* affixes
* nobiliary particle

By sequence|

* Given name
* list
* Middle name
* Surname
* list

By trait|

* Diminutive
* Double-barrelled
* Epithet
* animal
* common
* plant
* Eponymic
* Matronymic
* Metonymic
* Mononymic
* Occupational
* Patronymic
* surname
* Sobriquet
* Teknonymic
* Toponymic
* surname
* Patrial
* Unisex
* Virtue

By life situation|

* Aptronym
* Birth name
* Code name
* Maiden and married names
* Necronym
* Posthumous name
* Temple name
* Placeholder name
* Notname
* Regnal name
* Slave name

Pseudonyms (list)|

* Art name
* bugō
* Nicknames
* list
* hypocorism
* list of monarchs
* nom de guerre
* Pen name
* heteronym
* Ring name
* shikona
* Stage name
* list
* list of mononyms
* Username

By culture (surnames)|

| East Asia|

* Chinese
* art
* courtesy
* generation
* titles
* Hong Kong
* Formosan
* Japanese
* Korean
* Okinawan
* Vietnamese

|

Northern Asia
and Central Asia|

* Kalmyk
* Manchu
* Mongolian
* Sakha
* Tibetan

North Africa
and Western Asia|

* Afghan
* Arabic
* Azerbaijani
* Berber
* Coptic
* Hebrew
* Mandaean
* Pashtun
* Persian
* Somali
* Tatar
* Turkish

Oceania|

* Australian Aboriginal
* Fijian
* Hawaiian
* Māori
* Vanuatuan

Sub-Saharan Africa|

* Ashanti
* Congolese
* Eritrean and Ethiopian
* Ewe
* Ghanaian
* Igbo
* Yoruba
* Zimbabwean

Europe,
Americas,
and Australasia|

| Baltic|

* Latvian
* Lithuanian

|

Celtic|

* Cornish
* Irish
* Manx
* Scottish
* Welsh

Germanic|

* Dutch
* English
* American
* African-American
* Canadian
* German
* Gothic
* Icelandic
* Scandinavian
* Swedish

Romance|

* Catalan
* French
* Italian
* Occitan
* Portuguese
* Roman
* praenomen
* nomen
* cognomen
* agnomen
* Romanian
* Spanish
* Latin America

Slavic|

* Bulgarian
* Croatian
* Czech
* East Slavic
* Belarusian
* Russian
* Ukrainian
* Kashubian
* Macedonian
* Polish
* Serbian
* Slovak
* Suffixes

Uralic|

* Estonian
* Finnish
* Hungarian

Other|

* Albanian
* Armenian
* Basque
* Georgian
* Greek
* ancient
* Cypriot

South and Southeast Asia|

* Balinese
* Bengali
* Bhutanese
* Burmese
* Filipino
* Indonesian
* Chinese
* Javanese
* Cambodian
* Malaysian
* Mizo (Lushai)
* Indian
* Lao
* Pakistani
* Sindhi
* Sinhalese
* Tamilian
* Thai

By religion|

* Christian
* biblical
* papal
* saint
* Buddhist surname
* Dharma
* Jewish
* Hebrew
* surname
* Mandaean
* Theophoric

Manners of address (list)
Of authority and of honour|

| Styles|

* Honorific
* diplomatic
* imperial, royal, and noble
* judiciary
* religious
* ecclesiastical
* Pre-nominal letters
* Suffix
* emeritus
* Post-nominal letters
* academic
* orders, decorations, and medals

|

Titles|

* Academic
* Imperial, royal and noble
* chivalric
* courtesy
* false
* hereditary
* subsidiary
* substantive
* Military
* professional
* Academic
* educational
* honorary
* Corporate
* Diplomatic
* Judicial
* Religious
* ecclesiastical
* papal

Related traditions|

* Baptism
* Name day
* Calendar of saints

Related|

* Acronym
* Anonymity
* Anthropomorphism
* personification
* national
* Call sign
* Deadnaming
* Endonym and exonym
* Family
* Galton–Watson process
* Legal name
* name change
* Namesake
* Naming taboo
* Nomenclature
* nomen nescio
* Misnomer
* Onomastics
* -onym
* Personal identity
* identifier
* Proper noun
* Signature
* monogram
* royal cypher
* khelrtva
* signum manus
* tughra
* Surnames by country

1. ^ "Sacramento Kings | The Official Site of the Sacramento Kings". Sacramento Kings. Retrieved 2019-06-15.

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