Names That Mean Born

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).

Common male name in Ghana.

Even if you're not planning on having five kids, Enu makes a cute name for a son or daughter.

Phibba, Phibah, Phibbi, and Phebe were common names among enslaved people in America. They derive from Afua, the traditional Akan name for girls born on a Friday. They were often Anglicized as Phoebe.

Tori Amos added a little extra something to the already pretty elaborate Natasha for her daughter's name.

Commonly Anglicized as Phoebe, Phibah and variations such as Phibbi, Phebe, and Phibba, were used among enslaved people for daughters born on a Friday.

An alternate spelling of Arusi, used throughout Africa.

Yoruba names often reveal circumstances around a child's birth. In this case, Abidemi reveals a daughter was born without her father present.