NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Akosua

A feminine name of Akan origin meaning "born on Sunday".

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.

Akosua is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Akosua popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 9 births.

This profile covers 109 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 108 living people in the UK are called Akosua. 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

  • Akosua ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 9 girls were registered as Akosua.
  • About 108 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akosua as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2004

9 births

Estimated living

108

2026

Meaning

What does Akosua mean?

The name Akosua originates from the Akan language spoken by the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. It traces its roots back to the 13th century when the Akan people began migrating to their present location. Akosua is derived from the word "kos" meaning "born on" and the suffix "ua" referring to Sunday, indicating that the name is given to a girl born on Sunday.

In the Akan culture, each day of the week has a specific name associated with it, and children are traditionally named based on the day they were born. This naming convention has been an integral part of Akan tradition for centuries, and Akosua holds significance as a name bestowed upon girls born on the first day of the week.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Akosua can be found in oral histories and traditional stories passed down through generations of Akan people. However, written records of the name become more prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the introduction of Western education and record-keeping systems in the region.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Akosua was Akosua Busia, a prominent Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist born in 1923. She played a significant role in promoting education for girls in Ghana and advocating for gender equality.

Another remarkable Akosua was Akosua Budu Amoah, a Ghanaian entrepreneur and businesswoman who lived from 1905 to 1997. She founded the Akosua Budu Amoah Foundation, which provided educational and economic opportunities for underprivileged women and children.

In the realm of literature, Akosua Agyei-Bediako, a Ghanaian writer born in 1948, made significant contributions to the literary landscape with her novels and short stories exploring themes of identity, culture, and societal issues.

Akosua Asantewa, also known as Nana Yaa Asantewaa, was a celebrated Asante Queen Mother and influential figure in the late 19th century. She led an armed uprising against British colonial rule in Ghana, becoming a symbol of resistance and courage.

Additionally, Akosua Ganyo, born in 1938, is a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and ceramist whose works have been widely exhibited and celebrated both nationally and internationally, reflecting the cultural heritage and traditions of Ghana.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Akosua throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Ghana and the broader Akan community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Akosua over time

The chart below shows babies named Akosua registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Akosua, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Akosua
02579199620102024

Decades

Akosua by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akosua 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 #4325 14 3
2010s #4755 37 9
2000s #3371 45 8
1990s #3101 13 3

Related

Names similar to Akosua

FAQ

Akosua: questions and answers

How popular is the name Akosua in the UK right now?

In 2024, Akosua was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Akosua most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 9 babies registered as Akosua in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Akosua?

A feminine name of Akan origin meaning "born on Sunday".

How many people are called Akosua in the UK?

A total of 109 babies have been registered as Akosua across the 23 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.