UK boy's name
Kweku
A 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.
Kweku is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kweku popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 43 England and Wales registrations across 11 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 43 living people in the UK are called Kweku. 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
- • Kweku ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 boys were registered as Kweku.
- • About 43 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kweku as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
43
2026
Meaning
What does Kweku mean?
The name Kweku is a male given name of Akan origin, used primarily by the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It is derived from the Akan word "kweku," which means "born on Wednesday." The Akan practice of naming children based on the day of the week they were born is a long-standing tradition rooted in the cultural beliefs of the region.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kweku can be traced back to the medieval period of West African history, when the Akan people were a prominent ethnic group in the region. The name was commonly used among the Akans during this time and has remained a part of their naming traditions for centuries.
While the name Kweku does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been adopted and used by notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Kweku Anansi, a legendary figure in Akan folklore who is often depicted as a trickster spider. Anansi's tales have been passed down through generations and are an important part of the Akan oral tradition.
In more recent history, several prominent individuals have borne the name Kweku. Kweku Ansah (1917-1997) was a Ghanaian playwright, novelist, and educator who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of West Africa. Kweku Baako Jr. (born 1958) is a Ghanaian journalist and media personality known for his investigative reporting and advocacy for press freedom.
Another notable figure is Kweku Adoboli (born 1980), a former trader at UBS who was convicted of fraud and sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a $2.3 billion trading loss at the bank. Kweku Adaboh (born 1957) is a Ghanaian politician who served as a member of parliament and held various ministerial positions in the Ghanaian government.
Kweku Randolph (1890-1972) was a Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Randolph Trust, which provided scholarships and educational opportunities for Ghanaian students. His legacy continues to impact education in Ghana to this day.
While the name Kweku has its roots in the Akan culture of West Africa, it has gained recognition and usage beyond its traditional boundaries, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural exchange that has shaped the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kweku over time
The chart below shows babies named Kweku 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 Kweku, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kweku by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kweku 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 | #3254 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4733 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2997 | 25 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kweku
- 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
Kweku: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kweku in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kweku was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Kweku most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Kweku in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kweku?
A masculine Akan name meaning "born on Wednesday".
How many people are called Kweku in the UK?
A total of 43 babies have been registered as Kweku across the 11 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.