People in parts of Western Africa and Jamaica name their children after the day on which they were born… these include the Akan people in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the Fon people in Benin, the Ewe people of Togo and the Maroons and other descendants of slaves in Jamaica, as well as elsewhere in Africa.  Sometimes the name will be the first name, sometimes the middle name. 

The Jamaican names for the days of the week seem to come from the Akan language.  You can see their similarities as follows (listed is the day of week, followed by the Jamaican boys/girls names, followed by the Akan boys/girls names….

Sunday
Jamaican Names: Quashy (male)/Quashiba (female)
Akan: Kwesi or Kwosi (male)/Akosua (female)

Monday
Jamaican Names: Cudjo/Jubba
Akan: Kwadwo or Kojo/Adwoa

Tuesday
Jamaican: Quabena/Bena
Akan: Kwabena/Abenaa

Wednesday
Jamaican: Quaco or Cooba/Aqua or Memba
Akan: Kwaku/Akua

Thursday
Jamaican: Qua/Abba
Akan: Kwaw or Yaw/Yaa

Friday
Jamaican: Cuffy/Fibba
Akan: Kofi*/Afua or Efua

Saturday
Jamaican: Quamin/Quamina or Ama
Akan: Kwame/Amma

*Former Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan is from Ghana. He was born on a Friday.

We welcome you to share any special baby names in your country by commenting below.

-Mama Lisa

You can learn more variations of African and Jamaican baby names related to the days of the week here.

Image: By Three cubed27 – Own work, cc.