Yaw
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameAkan people
Meaningborn on a Thursday
Region of origin Ashanti
Empire of Ashanti
Other names
Related names

Yaw is a masculine given name originating from the Akan people and their day naming system, meaning "born on a Thursday" in Akan language, following their day naming system.[1] People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Yaw has the appellation "Preko" or "Opereba" meaning brave.[2][3]

Origin and meaning of Yaw

In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Yaw originated from Yawoada the Day of Reproduction.[2][4] Males named Yaw are known to be courageous and aggressive in a warlike manner (preko). They tend to be guarded, judgemental and appear to be ungrateful.[2][4]

Male variants of Yaw

Day names in Ghana vary in spelling among the various Akan subgroups. The name is spelt Yaw by the Akuapem, Ashanti and Fante subgroups.[5]

Female version of Yaw

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females. The variant of the name used for a female child born on Thursday is Yaa.[1][2][3]

Notable people with the name

Most Ghanaian children have their cultural day names in combination with their English or Christian names. Some notable people with such names are:

  • Yaw Antwi (born 1985), Ghanaian footballer playing in Serbia
  • Yaw Amankwah Mireku (born 1979), Ghanaian footballer
  • Yaw Asante (born 1991), Ghanaian footballer playing in Italy
  • Yaw Berko (born 1980), Ghanaian footballer playing in Tanzania
  • Yaw Danso (born 1989), Ghanaian footballer playing in Puerto Rico
  • Yaw Fosu-Amoah (born 1981), South African long jumper
  • Yaw Frimpong (born 1986), Ghanaian footballer playing in Congo
  • Yaw Ihle Amankwah (born 1988), Ghanaian footballer playing in Norway
  • Yaw Osafo-Marfo, (born 1942) Ghanaian politician and former minister for Education and Finance
  • Yaw Osene-Akwah (born 1984), Ghanaian youth activist, founding member of Okyeman Youth Association and Okyeman Youth for Development, comes from Akyem Apedwa
  • Yaw Preko (born 1974), Ghanaian former international footballer
  • Yaw Tog (born 2003), Ghanaian rapper
  • George Yaw Boakye (1937–1979), Ghanaian airman and politician
  • Eugene Yaw (born 1943), American politician
  • Joachim Yaw (born 1973), Ghanaian former international footballer and Olympic medalist
  • Lawrence Henry Yaw Ofosu-Appiah (1920–1990), Ghanaian academic and director of the Encyclopedia Africana
  • Nana Yaw Konadu Yeboah (born 1964), Ghanaian boxer and former world champion
  • Nicholas Yaw Boafo Adade (1927–2013), Ghanaian former supreme court judge
  • Paul Yaw Addo (born 1990), Ghanaian footballer playing in Norway
  • Samuel Yaw Adusei, Ghanaian politician
  • William Yaw Obeng (born 1983), Ghanaian former American football offensive lineman

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Agyekum, Kofi Kofi (January 2006). "The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Danso, Vanessa. "The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  3. 1 2 Kamunya, Mercy (2018-10-19). "Akan names and their meanings". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. 1 2 Konadu, Kwasi (2012). "The Calendrical Factor in Akan History". International Journal of African Historical Studies. 45: 217–246.
  5. ↑ "'Day born names' in Dagbani, Ewe and Fante". GhanaWeb. 2019-11-09. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
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