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.
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.
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.
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 deliveryedit
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 namesedit
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]
^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.
^Neita, Lance, "So what's in a name?", Jamaica Observer, 29 August 2014.
^"Sacramento Kings | The Official Site of the Sacramento Kings". Sacramento Kings. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
January 01, 1970
akan, names, akan, people, ghana, côte, ivoire, togo, frequently, name, their, children, after, week, they, were, born, order, which, they, were, born, these, names, have, further, meanings, concerning, soul, character, person, middle, names, have, considerabl. The Akan people of Ghana Cote 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 a a a represent high mid and low tone tone does not need to be marked on every vowel while the diacritic on a 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 d wo or jo Fante is pronounced something like English Joe but there do appear to be two sets of names for those born on Monday Contents 1 Day names 2 Naming for twins 3 Birth order names 4 Special delivery 5 Family names 6 References 7 Additional references 8 See alsoDay names editDay born Fante Variants Root Assoc 1 Jamaican 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 Kodjo 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 Komla Komla Komlan Kabenla Kobby Ebo Kobi Kobina 3 Abla Abla 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 Aku Ekua Akuba Wukuo Spider 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 Afi 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 Ameyo Kwami Amba Amene God Quame Quamina AmaNaming for twins editThere 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 Ata Ataa Atta First born younger 4 twin Ata Panyin Ataa Panyin Panyin Second born elder twin Ata kakra Kakra Kakraba Born after twins Tawia Born after Tawia Gaddo NyankomagoBirth order names editThere 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 Piesie Second born Mǎnu Maanu Third born Mensa Mansa Fourth born Anan Anane Fifth born Num Anum Sixth born Esĩa Seventh born Esuon Nsṍwaa Eighth born Botwe Ninth born Akron Nkroma Nkroma Nkrũmah Tenth born Badu Baduwaa Eleventh born Dukũ Twelfth born Dunu Thirteenth born Adusa Fourteenth born Agyeman Last born KaakyireSpecial delivery editChildren are also given names when delivered under special circumstances Circumstance Male Female name Translation on the field Efum The field on the road Ɔkwan The road in war Bekṍe Bediakṍ war time happy circumstances Afriyie Afiriyie good year one who loves Adofo the special one from God warrior great one Agyenim the great one from God after long childlessness Nyamekye gift from God premature or sickly Nyameama what God has given no man can take away forceful Kumi forcefulness after death of father Anto it didn t meet him father refuses responsibility Obim pe nobody wants Yempew we don t want you Family names editAshanti 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 YiadomReferences edit 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 Neita Lance So what s in a name Jamaica Observer 29 August 2014 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 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 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 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 a b c d The Ashanti and their names asanteman freeservers com Archived from the original on 14 March 2014 Additional references editJ 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 editGhanaian name Sacramento Kings The Official Site of the Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings Retrieved 2019 06 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Akan names amp oldid 1222017073 Day names, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,