Baby Names That Mean the Day of the Week of Birth

Where Day-of-the-Week Names Originate

If you are looking for names that mean a day of the week, you will primarily find them in West Africa. Among the Akan, an ethnic group living mainly in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, the day-naming system is deeply rooted in the culture. These names are called "Kra-din" (soul names). In traditional Akan belief, a person's character is shaped by the day of the week on which they are born. For each of the seven days of the week, there is both a masculine and a feminine name form.

Alongside the West African tradition, there are also names with day-of-the-week connections in European and Arabic linguistic traditions. Here, however, naming is usually limited to a specific day. In culturally Christian Europe, this is Sunday, which holds a special role as the "Day of the Lord." In Islamic traditions and East Africa, it is Friday, the day of communal prayer.

The Names Sorted by Day of the Week

Below, you will find the names organized by day of the week. For the African names, regional variants (such as those of the Fante) are often listed alongside the standard Akan forms, differing slightly in spelling.

Monday

• Kwadwo: This name is documented in the Akan language as a masculine first name for a boy born on Monday. The pronunciation can initially be unfamiliar to German speakers; the "dw" is often pronounced as a soft, almost voiced "j" sound.
• Kojo: This is a documented, widely used spelling and spoken variant of Kwadwo. It is often easier to pronounce in an international context and is read like "Ko-jo."
• Adwoa: This is the feminine counterpart to Kwadwo. The name is documented as an Akan first name for a girl born on Monday. Here, too, the "dw" blends phonetically.

Tuesday

• Kwabena: This first name originates in Akan tradition and is documented as a name for a boy born on Tuesday. The stress usually falls on the second syllable.
• Abena: This is the documented feminine form for Tuesday in Akan culture. The name is short, ends in an open A, and blends very unobtrusively into European naming landscapes phonetically.

Wednesday

• Kwaku: This first name is documented as a masculine Akan name for Wednesday. In English-language spelling, it is also occasionally found as Quaku.
• Akua: This is the documented feminine equivalent for Wednesday. The vowels are pronounced individually (A-ku-a), making the name very accessible in German.

Thursday

• Yaw: This name is documented in Akan culture as a first name for a boy born on Thursday. It is very short and pronounced as a single syllable, similar to the English word "yawn" (without the n).
• Yaa: This is the documented feminine form for Thursday. The double A indicates a slight elongation of the vowel.

Friday

• Kofi: This name is documented as a masculine Akan first name for Friday. Through well-known figures (such as former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan), this name is one of the most internationally recognized day-of-the-week names.
• Afia: This is the documented feminine form for Friday in Akan tradition. The name is pronounced with three syllables (A-fi-a).
• Efua: This is documented as a Fante variant (a subgroup of the Akan) for a girl born on Friday.
• Juma: This masculine first name comes from East Africa (Swahili). The frequently cited meaning "born on a Friday" is an accurate interpretation of its usage, but not the original literal meaning. The word traces back to the Arabic root for "gathering" or "community" (Jumu'ah), designating Friday as the day of communal prayer.

Saturday

• Kwame: This first name is documented as a masculine Akan name for Saturday. It is pronounced with two syllables (Kwa-me) and is widely known internationally.
• Ama: This is the documented feminine form for Saturday among the Akan. With only three letters, the name is extremely short and striking.

Sunday

• Akwasi: This name is documented in Akan tradition as a masculine first name for Sunday.
• Akosua: This is the documented feminine equivalent for Sunday among the Akan.
• Esi: This name is documented as a Fante variant for a girl born on Sunday. This name is also short and easy to pronounce in German-speaking regions.
• Domenico: This Italian boy's name goes back to the Latin word "dominicus." The underlying Latin word means "belonging to the Lord." Because Sunday is the "Day of the Lord" (dies dominicus) in Christianity, the name is firmly documented as a day-of-the-week name for Sunday.
• Domenica: This is the documented feminine form of Domenico, sharing the same Latin derivation.
• Sunday: This English-language name corresponds directly to the name of the day of the week, Sunday. However, its naming history is multifaceted: today it is often given as a modern word name, but historically it is also documented as an Anglicized form of African day names in the diaspora. A single, blanket derivation falls short here.

Combining Day-of-the-Week Names Harmoniously

If you choose a day-of-the-week name, you should consider how it fits into your daily life and pairs with your last name. Many African names end in vowels (such as Ama, Kofi, Abena). This creates a smooth transition when the last name begins with a consonant. With last names that also begin with a vowel (for example, Abena Arnold), you should say the full name out loud a few times to test whether the vowels blend together awkwardly or whether a small, natural pause occurs.

Pay attention to syllable length as well. Very short names like Yaw, Ama, or Esi often balance long, multi-syllable surnames well. Longer first names like Domenico or Akosua often pair well phonetically with short surnames.

If you are unsure whether a day-of-the-week name works well as a primary name in your everyday environment, placing it as a middle name is a great option. Because the day of the week of birth is an unchangeable fact, this group of names is wonderfully suited to giving a child a piece of their birth story to carry with them, without the name constantly needing to be spelled out day to day.

How to Proceed with Your Name Search

If the concept of day-of-the-week names appeals to you, you will naturally have to wait and see which day your child is actually born. In this case, many parents do not commit to a single name beforehand; instead, they prepare a small selection or deliberately choose the day name as a middle name once the baby arrives.

To organize this selection, you can use HeyName. In the app, you can connect your devices via an invite and rate names independently of one another. For example, when you see "Kofi" or "Ama," you can mark them as "Favorite," "Maybe," or "Not for us." Names that both of you mark as a favorite will appear as shared matches on your list.

Take advantage of the feature to try out first and middle names together with your last name. That way, you can see right on the screen how a West African or Italian day name looks combined with your family surname. You can compare up to three favorites side by side and then discuss your shortlist together at your own pace.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

Back to this topic: Meaning and nature