Ghana Naming Customs

Online Tools

 * Behind the Name: Akan Given Names
 * Examples of Ghanaian day names in Wikipedia
 * FamilySearch's surname experience - enter your last name to find its meaning and origin

Surnames

 * Personal names in Ghana consist of several given names and surnames based on the language of ethnic groups in Ghana: including Akan, Mole-Dagombas, Ga, Ewe and Nzema.

Given Names

 * Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. These day names have further meanings concerning the soul and character of the person.
 * Middle names have considerably more variety and can refer to their birth order, twin status, or an ancestor's middle name. These names are also used among Ghanaians living abroad and among Africans living in the diaspora who wish to identify with their ancestral homeland.
 * Most Ghanaians have at least one name from this system, even if they also have an Arabic or western name. Notable figures with day names include Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.