Kwame

BoyAkan· “born on Saturday”

Meaning
born on Saturday
Origin
Akan
Pronunciation
KWAH-may
Syllables
1
US rank 2025
#2,962
US babies 2025
42
Best rank
#583 (1990)
Peak year
1990

Meaning and origin of Kwame

Kwame is an Akan name that means “born on Saturday”.

Kwame is an Akan day name from Ghana, given to boys born on Saturday. In Akan tradition each day of the week has a set name for boys and girls, and children are often named for the day of their birth; the Saturday girls' name is Ama. The most famous bearer is Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president and a leading figure in the movement for African independence. It is said KWAH-may. Other day names include Kofi for Friday and Kwaku for Wednesday. For families of Ghanaian descent it often records the birth day itself.

Popularity over time

01002003004001960198020002020Peak 1990: 299
US babies named Kwame per year, 1880 to 2025

Kwame first appears in US Social Security records in 1960. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 8 different years, starting in 1971. Its best national rank was #583 in 1990, the same year it reached its highest count of 299 babies. In 2025, 42 babies were named Kwame, and it ranked #2,962 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.

Its national rank moved from #1,183 in 1980, #1,936 in 2000, #2,611 in 2010, and #2,962 in 2025. Of the 3,955 US boys named Kwame since records began, 30% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 678 babies. Since 2010, 728 more have been named Kwame.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Nestor, German, Arron, Hakeem, and Rico.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Kwame ranked highest in Georgia.

StateRank thereBabies
Georgia#14615

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Kwame is usually pronounced KWAH-may, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with K and ends in “-me”.

Middle names for Kwame

A few middle names that flow with Kwame: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Kwame

Similar names

Graeme Boy
GRAY-uhm
“gravelly homestead” · Scottish
#3,980
Jaime Boy
HY-meh
“supplanter” · Spanish
#657
Jerome Boy
juh-ROHM
“sacred name” · Greek
#1,257
Asante Boy
ah-SAHN-tay
“thank you” · Swahili
#2,769
Kofi Boy
KOH-fee
“born on Friday” · Akan
#3,279
Jame Boy
JAYM
“variant of James, supplanter” · Hebrew
rare
Nana Unisex
NAH-nuh
“Akan title for elders and rulers” · Akan
#7,045

Lists that include Kwame

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Kwame mean?

Kwame is an Akan name that means “born on Saturday”.

What is the origin of the name Kwame?

Kwame has Akan roots. Kwame is an Akan day name from Ghana, given to boys born on Saturday.

Is Kwame a popular name?

Not especially. Kwame ranked #2,962 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Kwame a boy or girl name?

Kwame is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Kwame?

Kwame is usually pronounced KWAH-may. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings