African Day names

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Many cultures of Africa, mainly in Western Africa, have a tradition of naming their children after the day of the week they were born. Whilst not the actual names of the days, the names used are derived from the names of the days.

Each culture's customs will be discussed in its own section.

Ghana

Ghanaian people very commonly name their children based on the day of the week they were born. Middle names are used for a "given name" as such, but often even these names are influenced by birth order, ancestral names, or being a twin. The names themselves can differ across tribes, but many Ghanaian cultures use this naming system.

Akan

Akan is the most widely spoken language in Ghana (around 80%). It is found throughout Ghana as both a native language and a lingua franca, as well as in parts of Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. It has also influenced creole languages in the Caribbean and South America (see Outside Africa).

Day Male Female
Monday Kojo
Kodjó
Jojo
Adjoa
Adjua
Ajwoba
Adwoba
Tuesday Kobena
Komlá
Komlan
Kabenla
Ebo
Kobi
Kobina
Abena
Ablá
Araba
Abrema
Wednesday Kweku
Kukuuwa
Ekua
Thursday Ekow
Yao
Yawo
Yawu
Yawa
Ayawa
Aba
Yaaba
Yaba
Abina
Friday Kofi
Yoofi
Efua
Afí
Afua
Afiba
Efia
Efe
Saturday Kwame
Kwami
Kwamena
Kwamina
Komi
Amba
Ame
Ami
Ameyo
Sunday Kwesi
Awusi
Asi
Esi
Akwasi
Kosi
Esi
Akasi
Akosi
Akosiwa
Kwasiba

Dagbani

The Dagomba people of northern Ghana speak Dagbani. They have a partial day-naming system, however it is incomplete due to their preference for Arabic-derived names.

Day Male Female
Monday - Tani
Tuesday - Talaata
Wednesday - Lariba
Thursday Lamisi
Laamishi
Lamisi
Laamishi
Friday Azindoo Azima
Saturday Sibido Sibiri
Sunday - Lahari


Ewe

Ewe (Èʋe) is spoken in southern Ghana as well as in Togo.

Day Male Female
Monday Kɔdzo
Kwadzo
Kojo
Adzo
Adzowɔ
Tuesday Kɔmla
Kɔbla
Kwabla
Abra
Abla
Wednesday Kɔku
Kwaku
Awuku
Aku
Akuwɔ
Thursday Yao
Ayao
Kwawu
Yawa
Awo
Yaa
Friday Kofi Afua
Afi
Afiwa
Afiwɔ
Saturday Kɔmi
Kwami
Kormi
Ama
Ami
Sunday Kɔsi
Kwasi
Akɔsia
Akɔsua
Kosiwor
Esi
Awusi

Twi

Twi is a dialect of Akan spoken in southern and central Ghana by the Asante (Ashanti), Bono, and Akuapem peoples.

Day Male Female
Monday Kwadwo
Kojo
Adwoa
Tuesday Kwabena Abena
Wednesday Kweku
Kwaku
Akua
Thursday Yaw Yaa
Friday Kofi Afia
Saturday Kwame Ama
Sunday Akwasi
Kwasi
Asi
Akosua

Nigeria

Some Nigerian tribes use a day-naming system, however it is different to the one found in Ghana. It is also less common than in Ghana to name children after the day they were born on. Also, it is common to find these names also being used as surnames.

Igbo

The Igbo people are native to south-eastern Nigeria as well as Equatorial Guinea. Their day-naming system uses their native 4-day week system, which includes the 4 "market days" of Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo. There are 7 weeks in each Igbo month and 13 months in each year to account for the 4-day weeks. The indigenous calendar is still widely known amongst Igbos.

Day Male Female
Eke Okoeke
Okeke
Mgbeeke
Ugweke
Orie Okorie Mgborie
Afor Okoafo
Okoroafo
Okafor
Mgbọafọ
Nkwo Okonkwọ
Nwankwo
Nkwọja
Nwanyinkwọ

Outside Africa

Afro-Jamaican

These are names used by Afro-Jamaican maroon people of Ghanaian (Ashanti) descent. They use customs similar to Ghanaian tribes, however the spellings are sometimes Anglicised.

Day Male Female
Monday Cudjoe
Quajo
Adjoa
Ajuba
Juba
Tuesday Quabena Abena
Bena
Wednesday Spider
Quaco
Aqua
Acooba
Cooba
Thursday Quaw
Quao
Aba
Yaaba
Friday Cuffy
Cuffee
Afiba
Fiba
Saturday Quame Quamina
Ama
Sunday Quashie Quasheba

Ndyuka

The Ndyuka maroon people of Suriname (South America) are descended from the Akans of Ghana. They have carried over the tradition of day-themed naming from their ancestors.

Day Male Female
Monday Kodyo Adyuba
Tuesday Abeni Abeni
Wednesday Koku
Kweku
Kaku
Kuuku
Akuba
Akú
Ekua
Thursday Yow Yaba
Friday Kofi Afiba
Saturday Kwami Amba
Sunday Kwasi Kwasiba