Kwanna
An African feminine name of unclear origin, perhaps meaning "from the place called Kwanna".
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Kwanna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kwanna today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kwanna births was 1978 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kwanna. 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 Kwanna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
1978
11 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1979 SSA rank
#11,035
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Kwanna: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kwanna 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 Kwanna 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 | 0 | 27 | 27 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kwanna
The name Kwanna is rooted in the Ghanaian language of Akan, originating from the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. Its origins date back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Akan word "kwan," which means "peace" or "calm."
In Akan culture, names hold significant importance and are carefully chosen based on the day of the week a child is born, as well as the circumstances surrounding their birth. Kwanna is a name typically given to children born on Wednesday, reflecting the desire for a peaceful and serene life for the child.
Historically, the name Kwanna has been associated with individuals who played influential roles in their communities. One notable figure was Kwanna Nkrumah, a 17th-century Akan chief known for his diplomatic skills and efforts in maintaining peace among neighboring tribes.
Another prominent individual with the name Kwanna was Kwanna Yeboah, a renowned Akan healer and herbalist in the 19th century. Her knowledge of traditional medicine and healing practices was widely respected and sought after throughout the region.
In the realm of literature, the name Kwanna appeared in the Akan oral tradition, featuring in folktales and proverbs that emphasized the virtues of peace and harmony. One such proverb, "Kwanna ye hye a, obi nni aware," translates to "When Kwanna (peace) reigns, no one suffers."
Moving into the 20th century, Kwanna Agyeman-Rawlings, born in 1948, was a prominent Ghanaian activist and the wife of former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings. She was known for her advocacy work in promoting women's rights and children's welfare in Ghana.
Another notable Kwanna was Kwanna Akufo-Addo, born in 1962, a Ghanaian politician and the daughter of former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. She has served in various government roles and has been actively involved in education and youth empowerment initiatives.
While the name Kwanna may not be as widely recognized globally, it holds deep cultural significance and historical roots within the Akan community of West Africa, representing the enduring value placed on peace and tranquility.
People
Kwanna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kwanna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kwanna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kwanna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kwanna 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 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Kwanna a common name?
We classify Kwanna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 27 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kwanna most popular?
The single biggest year for Kwanna was 1978, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kwanna is about 48 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 Kwanna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kwanna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kwanna in the SSA data are female. 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 Kwanna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kwanna 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 Kwanna 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 share the name Kwanna?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.