Find out how popular the first name Kwame has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

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 2023, there were 38 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kwame.

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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