Kwame first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kwame has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kwame

A masculine name of Akan origin meaning "born on Saturday".

Popularity of Kwame by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kwame is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Kwame being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 36 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kwame.

YearMale CountFemale Count
2024360
2023380
2022510
2021480
2020520
2019490
2018400
2017430
2016510
2015360
2014390
2013480
2012510
2011560
2010470
2009400
2008650
2007400
2006470
2005570
2004620
2003500
2002840
2001790
2000540
1999590
1998570
1997600
1996840
1995860
19941230
19931110
19921290
19911960
19902998
19892310
1988390
1987350
1986400
1985380
1984480
1983520
1982630
1981520
1980600
1979610
1978435
1977595
1976615
1975640

The history of the first name Kwame

The name Kwame has its origins in the Akan language spoken by the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast in West Africa. It is a masculine name derived from the Akan word "kwame," which means "born on Saturday." This suggests that the name was likely given to boys born on a Saturday according to the Akan naming tradition.

The Akan people have a long and rich cultural history dating back centuries, and their naming practices have been an integral part of their traditions. The Akan naming system is based on the day of the week a child is born, with each day having its own set of names for boys and girls.

Historical records suggest that the name Kwame has been in use among the Akan people for several centuries, although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of its use. It is possible that the name was mentioned in ancient Akan oral traditions or folklore, but written records from that time are scarce.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kwame is Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, who was born in 1909 and served as president from 1960 to 1966. He was a prominent figure in the Pan-African movement and played a crucial role in Ghana's independence from British colonial rule.

Another notable bearer of the name Kwame is Kwame Anthony Appiah, a British-Ghanaian philosopher and cultural theorist who was born in 1954. He is known for his work on race, identity, and cosmopolitanism, and has written several influential books, including "In My Father's House" and "The Ethics of Identity."

Kwame Ture, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, was an American civil rights activist and leader of the Black Power movement. He was born in 1941 and played a significant role in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Kwame Kilpatrick is an American former politician who served as the Mayor of Detroit from 2002 to 2008. He was born in 1970 and was involved in a corruption scandal that ultimately led to his resignation and conviction on various charges.

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong was a Ghanaian military officer and politician who served as the Head of State of Ghana from 1972 to 1978. He was born in 1932 and rose to power through a military coup, ruling Ghana during a period of economic and political turmoil.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kwame was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kwame, please contact us.

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