← People & society People & society · Advanced English

Yaw (name)

Male given name from the Akan people

2 min
estimated reading 6
complete sections 15.56
algorithmic grade estimate

Before you read

Use the article and the local dictionary together

The complexity label is calculated from sentence length and syllable estimates; it is guidance, not an assessment of you. Open any highlighted word below for its full local dictionary page.

Words
272
Native text
2147 characters
Dictionary match
81%
Revision
1358164672 · 2026-06-07T00:31:49Z
Key vocabulary

Words to check before reading

Ghanaian14 uses in this article footballer8 uses in this article playing5 uses in this article former4 uses in this article politician3 uses in this article their4 uses in this article people3 uses in this article international2 uses in this article Thursday2 uses in this article culture2 uses in this article meaning2 uses in this article naming2 uses in this article system2 uses in this article Ghana2 uses in this article known2 uses in this article transliterated1 uses in this article Encyclopedia1 uses in this article Reproduction1 uses in this article appellation1 uses in this article combination1 uses in this article

Overview

Yaw is a masculine given name originating from the Akan people and their day naming system, meaning "born on a Thursday" in Akan language, following their day naming system. People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Yaw has the appellation "Preko" or "Opereba" meaning brave.

Origin and meaning of Yaw

In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Yaw originated from Yawoada the Day of Reproduction. Males named Yaw are known to be courageous and aggressive in a warlike manner (preko). They tend to be guarded, judgemental and appear to be ungrateful.

Male variants of Yaw

Day names in Ghana vary in spelling among the various Akan subgroups. The name is spelt Yaw by the Akuapem, Ashanti, Bono, Akyem and Fante subgroups.

Female version of Yaw

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females. The variant of the name used for a female child born on Thursday is Yaa.

Notable people with the name

Most Ghanaian children have their cultural day names in combination with their English or Christian names.

Some notable people with such names are: *Yaw Antwi (born 1985), Ghanaian footballer playing in Serbia *Yaw Amankwah Mireku (born 1979), Ghanaian footballer *Yaw Asante (born 1991), Ghanaian footballer playing in Italy *Yaw Berko (born 1980), Ghanaian footballer playing in Tanzania *Yaw Fosu-Amoah (born 1981), South African long jumper *Yaw Frimpong (born 1986), Ghanaian footballer playing in Congo *Yaw Ihle Amankwah (born 1988), Ghanaian footballer playing in Norway *Yaw Osafo-Marfo, (born 1942) Ghanaian politician and former minister for Education and Finance *Yaw Preko (born 1974), Ghanaian former international footballer *Yaw Tog (born 2003), Ghanaian rapper *Eugene Yaw (born 1943), American politician *Joachim Yaw (born 1973), Ghanaian former international footballer and Olympic medalist *Lawrence Henry Yaw Ofosu-Appiah (1920–1990), Ghanaian academic and director of the Encyclopedia Africana *Nicholas Yaw Boafo Adade (1927–2013), Ghanaian former supreme court judge *Samuel Yaw Adusei, Ghanaian politician

See also

*Rao (Chinese surname), sometimes transliterated as Yaw

People & society

Continue with related local reading

National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)Advanced Antisemitism in MarylandAdvanced Ichikawa FusaeAdvanced ClenbuterolAdvanced Minouche ShafikAdvanced Jubril AyinlaAdvanced