The Akan people of Ghana 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-, arespectively. 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 bornFanteVariantsRootAssoc.[1]Jamaican / Fante names[2]
Male nameFemale nameNdyuka
Sunday
(Kwesida)
KwesiAkosua, EsiAwusi, Asi, Esi, Kwasi, Siisi, Akwasi, Kosi;
Akasi, Akosi, Akosiwa, Kwasiba
Kwasi, KwasibaAsiUniverseQuashie, Quasheba
Monday
(Jowda)
KojoAdwoaKodjó, Kojo, Kwadwo, Jojo, Cudjoe;
Adjua, Ajwoba, Adwoba, Adjoa, Adjowa
Kodyo, AdyubaDwoPeaceCudjoe, Quajo, Adjoa, Ajuba, Juba
Tuesday
(Benada)
Kwabena, EboAbenaKomlá, Komlã, Komlan, Kabenla, Kobby, Ebo, Kobi, Kobina;
Ablá, Ablã, Abenaa, Araba, Abrema
AbeniBeneOceanQuabena, Abena, Bena
Wednesday
(Wukuda)
Kweku, YookuAkuaKukuuwaKoku, Kokou, Kwaku, Abeiku, Kaku, Kuuku, Kwaku;
Akuba, Akú, Ekua, Akuba
WukuoSpiderQuaco, Aqua, Acooba, Cooba
Thursday
(Yahwada)
YawYaaYao, Yawo, Yawu, Yawa, Ayawa, Kwaw, Ekow, Kow;
Yaa, Yaaba, Yaba, Aaba, Abina
Yaw, YabaYaEarthQuaw, Quao, Aba, Yaaba
Friday
(Fida)
KofiAfuaFiifi, Yoofi;
Afí, Afua, Afiba, Afia, Efua, Efe
Kofi, AfibaAfiFertilityCuffy, Cuffee, Afiba, Fiba
Saturday
(Memeneda)
KwameAmba, AmaKwami, Kuw-ame, Kw-ame, Kw-amina, Komi;
Ame, Ami, Amba, Ameyo
Kwami, AmbaAmeneGodQuame, Quamina, Ama

Naming ceremony 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.

TwinMale nameFemale nameVariants
TwinAtáAtaáAtta
First born ("younger"[3] twin)Ata PanyinAtaá PanyinPanyin
Second born ("elder" twin)Ata kakraKakra, Kakraba
Born after twinsTawia
Born after TawiaGaddoNyankómàgó

Birth-order names

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

OrderMale nameFemale name
First bornPíèsíe
Second bornMǎnuMáanu
Third bornMeńsã́Mánsã
Fourth bornAnan, Anané
Fifth bornNúm, Anúm
Sixth bornEsĩã́
Seventh bornEsuónNsṍwaa
Eighth bornBótwe
Ninth bornÁkron, NkrómaNkróma Nkrũmãh
Tenth bornBadúBadúwaa
Eleventh bornDúkũ
Twelfth bornDúnu
Thirteenth bornAdusa
Fourteenth bornAgyeman
Last bornKaakyire

Special delivery

Children are also given names when delivered under special circumstances.

CircumstanceMale/Female nameTranslation
on the fieldEfum"The field"
on the roadƆkwán"The road"
in warBekṍe, Bedíàkṍ"war time"
happy circumstancesAfriyie/Afiríyie"good year"
one who lovesAdofo"the special one from God, warrior"
great oneAgyenim"the great one from God"
after long childlessnessNyamékyε"gift from God"
premature or sicklyNyaméama"what God has given (no man can take away)"
forcefulKumi"forcefulness"
after death of fatherAntó"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)[4][5][6]
# Ethnic-Ashanti family name[4][5][6] # Ethnic-Ashanti family name[4][5][6] # Ethnic-Ashanti family name [4][5][6]
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 NimoNimoh
10 Achamfour 93 Bekoe 177 NkansaNkansah
11 Acquah 94 Bemah 178 Nkrumah
12 Adade 95 Boadi 179 Nsiah
13 Addai 96 Boadu 180 NsonwahNsonwaa
14 Addo 97 Boahen 181 Nsor
15 Adiyiah 98 Boakye 182 NtiamoaNtiamoah
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 BonsraBonsrah 190 Nyarko
24 AfrakomaAfrakomah 107 Brempong 191 ObengOteng
25 AfrifaAfirifa 108 BusiaBusiah 192 Obuor
26 Afriyie 109 CofieCuffeeKofi 193 Oduro
27 Afful 110 Crentsil 194 Ofori
28 Ahinful 111 DaakoDarko 195 Ofosu
29 Arkorful 112 DankwahDanquah 196 Ogyampah
30 Agyapong 113 Danso 197 Ohemeng
31 Agyare 114 DapaaDapaahDepay 198 Ohene
32 Agyei 115 Diawuo 199 Okese
33 AgyemanAgyemang 116 DonkorDonkohDontoh 200 Okoromansah
34 Aidoo 117 Domfe 201 Okyere
35 AkentenAkenteng 118 Dorkenoo 202 OmenahOmenaa
36 Akomeah 119 Duah 203 Opambuor
37 Akomfrah 120 Dufie 204 Opare
38 Akosah 121 Duodu 205 Opoku
39 Akoto 122 DwamenaDwamenah 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 AmankonaAmankonah 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 FreduaFreduah 217 Peprah
51 Amoah 134 Fremah 218 Pinaman
52 Amoako 135 FrimpongFremponFrempong 219 Poku
53 Amoateng 136 Gyakari 220 Prempeh
54 Amofah 137 GyanDjanDjansi 221 Quainoo
55 Ampadu 138 GyameraGyamerah 222 Quansah
56 Ampem 139 GyamahGyaama 223 SafoSarfo
57 Ampofo 140 Gyamfi 224 Sakyi
58 Amponsah 141 Gyambibi 225 Sarkodie
59 Amponsem 142 Gyasi 226 SarpeiYartei
60 Andoh 143 Gyeabuor 227 SarponSarpong
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 SoadwaSoadwah
69 Appiah 152 KorantenKoranteng 236 Sowah
70 Asamoah 153 Korsah 237 Tagoe
71 AsanteAsantewaa 154 Kouassi 238 Takyi
72 Asare 155 KufuorKuffour 239 Tandoh
73 Asenso 156 Kumankama 240 Tawiah
74 Ashia 157 KusiKusiwaa 241 Tuffour
Tutu
75 Asiamah 158 Kwaata 242 Twasam
76 Asiedu 159 Kwakye 243 TweneboaTweneboah
77 Asomadu 160 KwatengKwarteng 244 Twerefuo
77 Asomaning 161 Kwayie 245 TwumTwumasi
79 Asubonteng 163 Kyekyeku 247 WiafeWiredu
Assumin Assuming Kyem
80 Ayeh 164 Kyereme 248 Yamoah
81 Ayensu 165 KyerematenKyeremateng 249 Yankah
82 Ayew 166 KyerewaKesewaa 250 Yeboah
83 Awuah 167 Manso 251 Yiadom

References

  1. Bartle, Philip F. W. (January 1978). "Forty Days: The Akan Calendar". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. Edinburgh University Press. 48 (1): 80–84. doi:10.2307/1158712. JSTOR 1158712.
  2. Neita, Lance, "So what's in a name?", Jamaica Observer, 30 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "List of Ashanti (Twi, Asante) Names". afropedea.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "The Sociolinguistic of Ashanti Personal Names" (PDF). njas.helsinki.fi (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "The Ashanti and their names". asanteman.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014.

Additional references

  • 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

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