Names That Mean Born

Borne by early enslaved people in America and the Caribbean who were born on Thursday. This follows the traditional West African day naming tradition.

Kavanagh, which can also be spelled Cavanagh, Cavenagh, Kavanaugh, and Cavanaugh, is one of the few traditional Irish surnames not to start with Mc or O'. Kavanagh relates to the name first Kevin or Caomhan. Early kings of Leinster bore the name Kavanagh.

A traditional day name used by Akan speakers in Ghana.

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).

Variant of Kwasi, given to boys born on a Sunday among the Akan people of Ghana.

Melodic and friendly, and similar to a Spanish word for chilled and ice cream.

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).

Mwajuma is the contracted form of Mwanajuma — both of which are traditionally given to girls born on Fridays. Mwajuma first entered the American baby name charts in 2021.

If you choose this name, it's not likely to be for the meaning.

Cuba Gooding Jr. notwithstanding, this sounds better for girls.

In many African cultures, it is traditional to name children based on the day of the week they were born. For the Swahili people of eastern Africa, Khamisi is used for boys born on Thursday.

A morning name from the Luo peoples of East Africa.

A common name among enslaved men and boys who were born on a Monday, named in the West African tradition based on birthday. Joe was a common nickname. The female equivalent is Juba.

Ajambo is an African name of the Luo language, spoken by the Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania. Like many African names, Ajambo's meaning refers to the temporaity of the birth — in this case, the evening.

American footballer Geneo Grissom pronounces his unusual name Gene-o, so it's possible that it's a spin on Gene. Whatever the origin, it's an interesting and unusual choice.

Cuff and Cuffee were borne by enslaved people in the US and Caribbean in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are Anglicized forms of Kofi, the Akan name for boys born on Friday.

West African naming tradition dictated that children were named for their time of birth or birth order — Nsia would have been given to a sixth-born baby girl.

Feminine form of the male name Wanjala.

Yoruba parents traditionally give their babies names that confer hopes and dreams upon them. A name like Abimbola is thought to inspire wealth.

Will be frequently misunderstood as Pele or, worse, "pilly".