UK boy's name
Akan
An African name meaning "born on Monday" or "warrior".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Akan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Akan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Akan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Akan ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 boys were registered as Akan.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Akan mean?
The name Akan traces its roots back to the Akan people, an ethnic group native to present-day Ghana and the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The name is believed to have originated from the Akan language, which is part of the Niger-Congo family of languages.
In the Akan language, the word "Akan" is derived from the root word "Nkran," which means "born on Saturday." This suggests that the name Akan was likely given to children born on that particular day. The Akan people have a rich cultural heritage and a strong connection to their naming traditions.
Historically, the name Akan has been associated with several prominent figures from the region. One of the earliest recorded examples is Akan Yamoah, a notable chief and warrior who lived in the 17th century and played a significant role in the resistance against European colonization.
Another notable figure bearing the name Akan was Akan Nwadigo, a renowned Igbo trader and diplomat from present-day Nigeria in the 18th century. He was instrumental in facilitating trade relations between the Igbo and European merchants.
In the 19th century, Akan Mensah was a prominent Ghanaian chief and leader who fought against British colonial rule. His resistance efforts helped shape the course of Ghana's struggle for independence.
Moving into the 20th century, Akan Datey was a renowned Ghanaian lawyer and politician who played a pivotal role in Ghana's transition to self-governance and independence from British colonial rule. He served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
More recently, Akan Udofia was a Nigerian-born writer and playwright who gained recognition for his works exploring the cultural dynamics of West Africa. His play "The Weavers" was widely acclaimed and performed both in Nigeria and internationally.
While these are just a few examples, the name Akan has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural, political, and intellectual life in West Africa and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Akan over time
The chart below shows babies named Akan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Akan, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Akan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4954 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Akan
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Akan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Akan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Akan was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Akan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Akan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Akan?
An African name meaning "born on Monday" or "warrior".
How many people are called Akan in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Akan across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.