Ankoma
A feminine name of West African origin meaning "born on Tuesday".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Ankoma. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ankoma today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ankoma births was 1977 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ankoma. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ankoma. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1977
6 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1977 SSA rank
#5,159
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Ankoma: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ankoma by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ankoma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ankoma
The name Ankoma traces its origins to the Akan people of West Africa, particularly in present-day Ghana. It is believed to have emerged during the early days of the Ashanti Empire, which flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries. The name is derived from the Akan words "anko" meaning "pepper" and "ma" meaning "to give birth," signifying the fiery nature or strong spirit of the child.
Ankoma was a relatively uncommon name during ancient times, but it gained prominence in the 18th century when it was bestowed upon a revered Ashanti warrior and leader. Ankoma Mensah, born in 1724, was renowned for his bravery and strategic prowess in battles against rival kingdoms. His exploits were recorded in oral traditions and passed down through generations, perpetuating the name's association with strength and courage.
In the 19th century, Ankoma became a popular name among the Akan people, and it gradually spread to other West African regions through trade and cultural exchange. One notable figure from this period was Ankoma Ata, a skilled goldsmith born in 1832, whose intricate works adorned the royal courts of the Ashanti Kingdom.
As the African diaspora spread across the globe, the name Ankoma found its way to other continents. In the early 20th century, Ankoma Kojo, a Ghanaian-born activist and writer, played a pivotal role in advocating for Pan-Africanism and the rights of African communities in the Americas. He was born in 1892 and his influential writings inspired generations of activists and intellectuals.
Another significant figure bearing the name Ankoma was Ankoma Mensah-Bonsu, a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served as the country's ambassador to various nations in the latter half of the 20th century. Born in 1924, he was instrumental in strengthening Ghana's international relations and promoting African unity.
Throughout the centuries, the name Ankoma has maintained its strong cultural heritage and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each leaving their mark on history with their accomplishments and contributions to their respective fields.
People
Ankoma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ankoma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ankoma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ankoma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ankoma going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Ankoma a common name?
We classify Ankoma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ankoma most popular?
The single biggest year for Ankoma was 1977, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ankoma is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ankoma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ankoma a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ankoma in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ankoma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ankoma in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ankoma can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ankoma?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Ankoma on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.