African Day names
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 |