UK boy's name
Kwaku
Masculine Akan name meaning "born on Wednesday".
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.
Kwaku is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kwaku popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2443, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 12 births.
This profile covers 184 England and Wales registrations across 27 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 183 living people in the UK are called Kwaku. 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
- • Kwaku ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 12 boys were registered as Kwaku.
- • About 183 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kwaku as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2443
2024
Births in 2024
9
Latest year
Peak year
1998
12 births
Estimated living
183
2026
Meaning
What does Kwaku mean?
Kwaku is a given name of Akan origin, an ethnic group primarily found in Ghana and parts of Ivory Coast. The name is derived from the Akan word "kwaku," meaning born on Wednesday. It is one of the traditional "day names" given to children based on the day of the week they were born.
The Akan people have a long-standing cultural tradition of naming children after the day of the week they were born, with each day having a corresponding name. This tradition dates back centuries and is believed to have originated in the Akan homelands of present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Historically, the name Kwaku has been recorded in various Akan literary works and oral traditions. It is mentioned in some Akan folktales and proverbs, reflecting its deep roots in the culture. However, there are no known references to the name in ancient religious scriptures or texts from outside the Akan culture.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kwaku can be found in the 18th century, when it was documented by European travelers and writers who encountered the Akan people. Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Kwaku.
Kwaku Dua I (1838-1867) was a prominent chief of the Asante Empire, known for his military campaigns and resistance against British colonialism in Ghana.
Kwaku Ansah (1956-2015) was a renowned Ghanaian actor and filmmaker, best known for his roles in popular Ghanaian movies and plays.
Kwaku Baah (1924-2008) was a Ghanaian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as the Ambassador to the United Nations.
Kwaku Anim (1905-1982) was a pioneering Ghanaian playwright and educator, widely regarded as the father of modern Ghanaian drama.
Kwaku Frimpong (1934-2014) was a celebrated Ghanaian artist and sculptor, whose works portrayed traditional Akan culture and themes.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Kwaku throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and cultural significance within the Akan community.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kwaku over time
The chart below shows babies named Kwaku 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 Kwaku, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kwaku by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kwaku 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 | #3351 | 25 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2839 | 73 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2276 | 60 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1891 | 26 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kwaku
- 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
Kwaku: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kwaku in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kwaku was ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Kwaku most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 12 babies registered as Kwaku in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kwaku?
Masculine Akan name meaning "born on Wednesday".
How many people are called Kwaku in the UK?
A total of 184 babies have been registered as Kwaku across the 27 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.