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Nanayaw

♂ Boy

Pronounced nah-nah-YAH-oo /nɑ.nɑˈjɑ.u/Medium

Meaning: From the Akan (Ghana) — yaw, a day-name for 'a male born on Thursday', with the honorific nana, 'grandparent/chief/elder', hence 'chief/elder born on Thursday'Low

In 30 seconds: A male born on Thursday: Nanayaw is Akan. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'nah-nah-YAH-oo').

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Origin LowAkan, Ghanaian

MeaningFrom the Akan (Ghana) — yaw, a day-name for 'a male born on Thursday', with the honorific nana, 'grandparent/chief/elder', hence 'chief/elder born on Thursday'

U.S. rank (2024)#9569 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 64

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Nanayaw comes from the Akan (Ghana) — yaw, a day-name for 'a male born on Thursday', with the honorific nana, 'grandparent/chief/elder', hence 'chief/elder born on Thursday'. A lyrical, classic name (said 'nah-nah-YAH-oo').

In the U.S. it appears in Ghanaian families. Rare, born-on-Thursday at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Nanayaw joins the Akan day-name Yaw ('a male born on Thursday') with the honorific nana ('elder/chief') — a lyrical, meaningful name (said 'nah-nah-YAH-oo').

Overall data confidence 38%

References — Nanayaw — Akan day-name

Variations

Nana YawYaw

Nicknames

YawNana

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nanayaw…

Yaw— the day-name root

Kwame— a fellow Akan day-name (Saturday)

Kofi— a companion Akan day-name (Friday)

Kwabena— a kin Akan day-name (Tuesday)

Explore names like Nanayaw

By themeakan ghanaian day-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nanayaw mean?

Nanayaw is Akan — Yaw ('a male born on Thursday') with the honorific nana ('elder/chief').

How do you pronounce Nanayaw?

It's said nah-nah-YAH-oo /nɑ.nɑˈjɑ.u/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Nanayaw a boy or girl name?

Nanayaw is a boy's name.

How popular is Nanayaw?

Nanayaw is a very rare name in the U.S.