UK girl's name
Efia
A feminine name of Akan (Ghanaian) origin meaning "born on Friday".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Efia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Efia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2004 to 2018. 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.
Efia is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Efia. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Efia ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 4 girls were registered as Efia.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Efia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2018
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Efia mean?
The name Efia is a feminine given name of Akan origin, used primarily among the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The root of the name is believed to derive from the Akan word "efe," which means "born on Friday." The Akans have a rich tradition of naming children based on the day of the week they were born.
In the Akan culture, Friday is considered a sacred day dedicated to the Akan god Ɔdomankoma. As such, children born on this day were often given names that reflected this significance, with Efia being a popular choice for girls. The name has been used for centuries among the Akan people, and its origins can be traced back to the pre-colonial era.
While there are no known direct references to the name Efia in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name has been a part of Akan oral traditions and naming customs for generations. It has been passed down through families and communities, carrying cultural and spiritual significance.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Efia can be found in the work of Ghanaian historian and writer J.E. Casely Hayford, who documented Akan names and their meanings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another notable early bearer of the name was Efia Nkrumah, the mother of Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who was born in the late 19th century.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Efia. Efia Tawiah Nyan (1908-1968) was a Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement. Efia Kodjo (1936-2021) was a Ghanaian politician and advocate for women's empowerment, serving as a member of parliament and a minister in the Ghanaian government.
Efia Kafrah (1943-2022) was a prominent Ghanaian actress and playwright, known for her contributions to the Ghanaian theatre scene. Efia Nyarkoh (born 1949) is a renowned Ghanaian musician and singer who has been a leading figure in the promotion of traditional Ghanaian music.
Lastly, Efia Odo (born 1986) is a Ghanaian actress and television personality who has gained popularity for her roles in various Ghanaian films and television shows.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Efia over time
The chart below shows babies named Efia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Efia, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Efia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Efia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5188 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4598 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Efia
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Efia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Efia in the UK right now?
In 2018, Efia was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Efia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 4 babies registered as Efia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Efia?
A feminine name of Akan (Ghanaian) origin meaning "born on Friday".
How many people are called Efia in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Efia 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.