Akan names

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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.

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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

Day bornFanteVariantsRootAssoc. [1] Jamaican / Fante names [2]
Male nameFemale name Ndyuka
Sunday
(Kwesida)
Kwesi Akosua, [3] Esi Kwasi, [3] Siisi, Akwasi, Kosi;
Akasi, Akosi, Akosiwa, Kwasiba, Awusi, Asi, [3] Ese [3]
Kwasi, KwasibaAsiUniverseQuashie, 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, AdyubaDwoPeace 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
AbeniBeneOceanQuabena, Abena, Bena
Wednesday
(Wukuda)
Kweku, Yooku Akua [3] Kukuuwa, Kwaku [3] Koku, Kokou, Kwaku, Abeiku, Kaku, Kuuku, Kwaku;
Akuba, Akú, Ekua, Akuba
WukuoSpiderQuaco, 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, YabaYaEarthQuaw, Quao, Aba, Yaaba
Friday
(Fida)
Kofi [3] Afua [3] Fiifi, Yoofi;
Afí, Afiba, Afia, [3] Efua, [3] Efe
Kofi, AfibaAfiFertilityCuffy, 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, AmbaAmeneGodQuame, Quamina, Ama

Naming 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" [4] 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. [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]
1Abeberese84Baafi168Mensah
2|MarfoAbeyie85Baah169Mintah
3Aboagye86Bafuor170Misa
4Aboah87Baffoe171Mmorosa
5Aborah88Baako172Mpong
6Aborampah89Baidoo173Munuo
7Abrafi90Barwuah174Narh
8Abrefa91Banahene175Nduom
9Acheampong92Bediako176NimoNimoh
10Achamfour93Bekoe177NkansaNkansah
11Acquah94Bemah178Nkrumah
12Adade95Boadi179Nsiah
13Addai96Boadu180NsonwahNsonwaa
14Addo97Boahen181Nsor
15Adiyiah98Boakye182NtiamoaNtiamoah
16Adomah99Boamah183Ntim
17Adomako100Boampong184Ntow
18Adusei101Boasiako185Nuako
19Adwubi102Boateng186Nkruamah
20Afoakwah103Boatei187Nyamekye
21Afreh104Bonah188Nyantah
22Afram105Bonsu189Nyantakyi
23Afrane106BonsraBonsrah190Nyarko
24AfrakomaAfrakomah107Brempong191ObengOteng
25AfrifaAfirifa108BusiaBusiah192Obuor
26Afriyie109CofieCuffeeKofi193Oduro
27Afful110Crentsil194Ofori
28Ahinful111DaakoDarko195Ofosu
29Arkorful112DankwahDanquah196Ogyampah
30Agyapong113Danso197Ohemeng
31Agyare114DapaaDapaahDepay198Ohene
32Agyei115Diawuo199Okese
33AgyemanAgyemang116DonkorDonkohDontoh200Okoromansah
34Aidoo117Domfe201Okyere
35AkentenAkenteng118Dorkenoo202OmenahOmenaa
36Akomeah119Duah203Opambuor
37Akomfrah120Dufie204Opare
38Akosah121Duodu205Opoku
39Akoto122DwamenaDwamenah206Oppong
40Akuamoah123Dwomoh207Opuni
41Akuffo124Ekuoba208Osafo
42Akrofi125Enninful209Osam
43Akyaw126Essien210Otuo
44Amakye127Farkyi211Osei
45Amamfo128Firikyi212Owoahene
46AmankonaAmankonah129Fofie213Owusu
47Amankwah130Fokuo214Oyiakwan
48Ameyaw131Fordjour215Paintsil
49Amissah132Forobuor216Pappoe
50Amoabeng133FreduaFreduah217Peprah
51Amoah134Fremah218Pinaman
52Amoako135FrimpongFremponFrempong219Poku
53Amoateng136Gyakari220Prempeh
54Amofah137GyanDjanDjansi221Quainoo
55Ampadu138GyameraGyamerah222Quansah
56Ampem139GyamahGyaama223SafoSarfo
57Ampofo140Gyamfi224Sakyi
58Amponsah141Gyambibi225Sarkodie
59Amponsem142Gyasi226SarpeiYartei
60Andoh143Gyeabuor227SarponSarpong
61Ankobiah144Gyimah228Sasraku
62Ankomah145Inkoom229Siabuor
63Ankrah146Karikari230Siaw
147Katakyie231Sika
65Anokye148Kenu232Sikafuo
66Ansah149Koduah233Sintim
67Apori Antwi150Kokote234Siriboe
68Apau151Konadu235SoadwaSoadwah
69Appiah152KorantenKoranteng236Sowah
70Asamoah153Korsah237Tagoe
71AsanteAsantewaa154Kouassi238Takyi
72Asare155KufuorKuffour239Tandoh
73Asenso156Kumankama240Tawiah
74Ashia157KusiKusiwaa241Tuffour
Tutu
75Asiamah158Kwaata242Twasam
76Asiedu159Kwakye243TweneboaTweneboah
77Asomadu160KwatengKwarteng244Twerefuo
77Asomaning161Kwayie245TwumTwumasi
79Asubonteng163Kyekyeku247WiafeWiredu
AssuminAssumingKyem
80Ayeh164Kyereme248Yamoah
81Ayensu165KyerematenKyeremateng249Yankah
82Ayew166KyerewaKesewaa250Yeboah
83Awuah167Manso251Yiadom

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References

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 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. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "The Ashanti and their names". asanteman.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014.

Additional references

See also

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