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Papa
How to Pronounce Papa
Pronounced PAH-pah /ˈpɑ.pɑ/Medium
Meaning: From the Akan (Ghanaian), 'good; a good person/father' (also widely a word for 'father'); routes layeredLow
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
Papa comes from the Akan (Ghanaian), 'good; a good person/father' (also widely a word for 'father'; routes layered, which we note). A crisp, warm name (said 'PAH-pah').
In the U.S. it appears in Ghanaian families. Rare, good-and-a-good-father at the root, and warm.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Papa mean?
Papa is Akan (Ghanaian) for 'good; a good person/father' (also a word for 'father'); the routes are layered.
How do you pronounce Papa?
It's said PAH-pah /ˈpɑ.pɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Papa a boy or girl name?
Papa is a boy's name.
How popular is Papa?
Papa is a rare name in the U.S.