UK boy's name
Kwadwo
A masculine Akan name meaning "born on Monday".
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.
Kwadwo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kwadwo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2263, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 10 births.
This profile covers 101 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 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 100 living people in the UK are called Kwadwo. 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
- • Kwadwo ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 10 boys were registered as Kwadwo.
- • About 100 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kwadwo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2263
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
2009
10 births
Estimated living
100
2026
Meaning
What does Kwadwo mean?
The given name Kwadwo originates from the Akan language spoken by the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. It dates back several centuries to the time when the Akan ethnic group was forming and developing its distinct cultural identity.
Kwadwo is derived from the Akan word "kwadu" meaning "male born on Monday." In the traditional Akan naming system, children were given names based on the day of the week they were born. Kwadwo was the name given to boys born on Monday, while girls born on that day were called Adwoa.
The earliest recorded uses of the name Kwadwo can be found in oral histories and folklore passed down through generations of Akan people. It is believed to have been in use as early as the 13th century, during the rise of the powerful Ashanti Empire in present-day Ghana.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Kwadwo is in the 17th century, when it was mentioned in written accounts by European traders and explorers who visited the region. These early records provide insights into the cultural practices and naming traditions of the Akan people at that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kwadwo:
1. Kwadwo Adansi-Bonsu (c. 1720-1800) was a renowned Ashanti military leader and chief who led successful campaigns against neighboring kingdoms, expanding the Ashanti Empire's territory and influence.
2. Kwadwo Prah (1882-1964) was a prominent Ghanaian educator and linguist who played a significant role in promoting and preserving the Akan language and culture.
3. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (1924-2005), also known as Sir Osei Kwadwo Afriyie, was a Ghanaian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as the first Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) from 1963 to 1964.
4. Kwadwo Akuffo (1925-2012) was a Ghanaian judge and politician who served as the President of Ghana from 1978 to 1979 during a period of political instability.
5. Kwadwo Asamoah (born 1988) is a Ghanaian professional football player who has represented his country at several international tournaments, including the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who carried the name Kwadwo, reflecting its longstanding cultural significance and prominence within the Akan community and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kwadwo over time
The chart below shows babies named Kwadwo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Kwadwo, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kwadwo by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kwadwo 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 | #3595 | 27 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3775 | 27 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3022 | 40 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2619 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kwadwo
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kwadwo: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kwadwo in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kwadwo was ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Kwadwo most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 10 babies registered as Kwadwo in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kwadwo?
A masculine Akan name meaning "born on Monday".
How many people are called Kwadwo in the UK?
A total of 101 babies have been registered as Kwadwo across the 21 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.