Kwabena
Meaningborn on tuesday · Akan
Kwabena is an African boy name meaning “born on tuesday”, with Akan roots. In Akan tradition, many children are named for the day of the week they were born. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Kwabena has the name Ben hiding inside it.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Kwabena would score 16 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationKwabena peaked in 1990, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Kwabena you'd meet today is about 35 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Kwabenas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kwabena would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 113,636 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKwabena first shows up in US birth records in 1970, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 55 years since.
US births per million boys, 1970–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kwabena
Kwabena is a boy name of African origin meaning “born on tuesday”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Kwabena
What does the name Kwabena mean?
Kwabena means “born on tuesday” and comes from Akan. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Jumanne (“born on Tuesday”), Kobina (“born on Tuesday”) and Komla (“born on Tuesday”).
What is the origin of the name Kwabena?
Kwabena is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Akan. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Kwabena a boy or girl name?
Kwabena is a boy name. In 2025, 15 US boys were named Kwabena.
How popular is the name Kwabena?
Kwabena ranked #5,861 for US boys in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1990, when it reached #3,166. Over the last five years it has slipped 162 places.
What names are similar to Kwabena?
If you like Kwabena, you might also like Jumanne, Kobina and Komla.
What should I know before naming my baby Kwabena?
Kwabena is an African boy name meaning “born on tuesday”, with Akan roots. In Akan tradition, many children are named for the day of the week they were born. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.