UK boy's name
Kwesi
Of Akan origin, a masculine name 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.
Kwesi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kwesi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 7 births.
This profile covers 76 England and Wales registrations across 18 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 75 living people in the UK are called Kwesi. 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
- • Kwesi ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 7 boys were registered as Kwesi.
- • About 75 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kwesi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
7 births
Estimated living
75
2026
Meaning
What does Kwesi mean?
The name Kwesi originates from the Akan people of West Africa, particularly Ghana and Ivory Coast. It is an Akan name derived from the word "kwesi," which means "born on Sunday." In the Akan naming tradition, children are given names based on the day of the week they were born.
Kwesi has been a popular name among the Akan people for centuries, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Akan kingdoms of Ghana and Ivory Coast. The name has been documented in various historical records and oral traditions passed down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Kwesi can be found in the Kemet Nubian Resurrection Sphinx Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian papyrus dating back to the 15th century BCE. This papyrus mentions an individual named "Kwesi-Ankh," which translates to "Life of Sunday" or "Born on Sunday."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kwesi. One of the most famous was Kwesi Amissah-Arthur (1951-2018), a Ghanaian economist and politician who served as the Vice President of Ghana from 2013 to 2017.
Another prominent figure was Kwesi Brew (1928-2007), a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana from 1972 to 1974.
In the world of sports, Kwesi Appiah (born 1960) is a former Ghanaian professional footballer and the current head coach of the Ghana national football team.
Kwesi Brew (1972-2020) was a Ghanaian artist and sculptor known for his intricate woodcarvings and sculptures depicting traditional Akan culture and symbolism.
Kwesi Aning (born 1970) is a Ghanaian security analyst and the Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Kwesi throughout history, reflecting its deep cultural significance and enduring legacy within the Akan tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kwesi over time
The chart below shows babies named Kwesi 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 Kwesi, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kwesi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kwesi 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4292 | 18 | 5 |
| 2000s | #2899 | 41 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2235 | 14 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kwesi
- 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
Kwesi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kwesi in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kwesi was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kwesi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 7 babies registered as Kwesi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kwesi?
Of Akan origin, a masculine name meaning born on Sunday.
How many people are called Kwesi in the UK?
A total of 76 babies have been registered as Kwesi across the 18 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.