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Yaw

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAW /ˈjɔ/Medium

Meaning: From the Akan (Ghanaian), 'born on a Thursday' — a male day-nameLow

In 30 seconds: Born on a Thursday: Yaw is Akan. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'YAW').

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Origin LowAkan

MeaningFrom the Akan (Ghanaian), 'born on a Thursday' — a male day-name

U.S. rank (2025)#11941 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1997

Total births (all-time)≈ 398

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

Yaw comes from the Akan (Ghanaian), 'born on a Thursday' — a male day-name (one of the Akan kradin day-names; the female counterpart is Yaa). A crisp, classic name (said 'YAW').

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

Did you know? Yaw means 'born on a Thursday' in Akan (Ghanaian) — a male day-name — crisp and classic (said 'YAW').

Overall data confidence 46%

References — Yaw — Akan day-name

Variations

YaoEkow

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Yaw…

Kwame— a fellow Akan day-name

Kofi— a companion Akan day-name

Kwadwo— another Akan day-name

Kwabena— a kin Akan day-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yaw mean?

Yaw is Akan (Ghanaian) for 'born on a Thursday' — a male day-name.

How do you pronounce Yaw?

It's said YAW /ˈjɔ/ — one syllable.

Is Yaw a boy or girl name?

Yaw is a boy's name.

How popular is Yaw?

Yaw is a rare name in the U.S.