Quartey
Ghanaian masculine name meaning "fourth born child" in the Akan language.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Quartey. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Quartey today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Quartey births was 1999 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Quartey. 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 Quartey. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1999
5 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
1999 SSA rank
#11,181
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Quartey: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Quartey 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 Quartey during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Quartey
The name Quartey has its origins in the Akan language spoken by the Akan people of West Africa, primarily in Ghana. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th to 16th centuries, when the Akan ethnic group was establishing itself as a dominant cultural force in the region.
The name Quartey is derived from the Akan word "kwartey," which means "born on Thursday." In the Akan tradition, children were often named after the day of the week on which they were born, a practice that reflected the importance of astrology and the belief that the day of birth held significance for a person's character and destiny.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quartey can be found in the oral histories and folktales of the Akan people, which have been passed down through generations. These stories often featured characters with names like Quartey, reflecting the cultural significance of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Quartey. One of the earliest recorded examples is Quartey Asante, a renowned Akan trader and diplomat who lived in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in facilitating trade between the Akan people and European merchants, contributing to the economic and cultural exchange between the two civilizations.
Another prominent figure with the name Quartey was Quartey Papafio, a respected Akan chief and military leader who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his strategic prowess and leadership during conflicts with neighboring tribes, earning him a reputation as a formidable warrior and protector of his people.
In the 19th century, Quartey Acquah was a renowned Akan scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study and preservation of the Akan language. His work helped to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people and facilitated better understanding between different ethnic groups.
In more recent times, Quartey Kweisi Quartey was a prominent Ghanaian politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations in the latter half of the 20th century. He played a crucial role in promoting Ghana's interests on the international stage and fostering diplomatic relationships with other countries.
Another notable figure was Quartey Quarteng, a Ghanaian artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his intricate and culturally significant works of art in the late 20th century. His sculptures, often depicting scenes from Akan mythology and folklore, helped to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people.
While the name Quartey has its roots in the Akan tradition, it has since gained popularity and recognition beyond its place of origin, transcending cultural boundaries and becoming a part of the broader tapestry of human diversity.
People
Quartey + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Quartey as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Q
Other first names starting with Q with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Quartey: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Quartey?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Quartey 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Quartey a common name?
We classify Quartey as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Quartey most popular?
The single biggest year for Quartey was 1999, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Quartey is about 27 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 Quartey in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Quartey a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Quartey 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 Quartey still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Quartey 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 Quartey 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 Americans are named Quartey?
Want to know how many people share the name Quartey? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.