FANTE NAMING AND THEIR MEANINGS
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
There’s a regular order of birth naming for all Akan however, in Mfantse the spellings and pronunciations are different and there are differences.
Number of Children naming
First born - Ɔkwan/ Abakan. First born is Piesie in Twi
Second born – Can some educate us on the name of a second born in Fante? Manu is second born in Twi
Third born - Mensa/Mesima/Mansa
Fourth born - Anan (Annan)/ Maanan
Fifth born – Anum/Num (General for all Akans)
Sixth born – Nsia anglicalised to Essien
Seventh born – Eson/Essoun
Eight born - Awɔtwe/Awotwe
Ninth born – Ackon/Ackun
Tenth born – Bedu anglicalised to Baidoo / Beduwa
And it goes on and on........
Days of the week naming
Kwesi/Akosoa/Esi - Kwasida (Sunday born)
Kojo(Cudjoe)/Jojo/Adjoa (Adwowa) – Ɛdwoda (Monday born)
Kobina/Ebo/Abena/Araba - Ɛbenada (Teusday born)
Kweku(Quaque)/Kuuku/Abeiku/Ekuwa(Ekua)/Kuukua – Wukuada (Wednesday born)
Ekow/Kwaw(Kwao)/Aba/Baaba – Yawoada (Thursday born)
Kofi/Yoofi/Fiifi/Fii/Efua/Efuwa/Efe – Ɛffida (Friday born)
Kwame/Kwamena(Quamena)/Ato/Ama - Memenda (Saturday born)
Twin Naming
Panyin – Older child of a twin (The child who came first)
Kakra – Younger child of a twin (The child who came second)
Atta – One of the twins
A typical example of these naming are Kofi Annan (Kofi – born on Friday, Annan – the fourth child of his parents) and Fiifi Atta Mills (Fiifi – born on Friday and Atta – a twin child)
What is your Fante name?