Declining since 2004, #4,758 for girls today.
Popularity of Awa since 1992
Babies named Awa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 84 |
| 2000s | 316 |
| 2010s | 300 |
| 2020s | 171 |
Meaning & origin
Awa is a name of rich multicultural heritage, most commonly associated with the Akan people of Ghana, where it serves as a day name for girls born on Thursday. In the United States, it has been in use since 1992, but remains exceptionally rare. According to Social Security data, Awa reached its peak popularity in 2010, though it has been steadily declining since 2004. As of 2025, only about 1 in every 57402 newborns receives this name, placing it at rank 4758. Geographically, Awa is most frequently recorded in New York. Despite its rarity, Awa carries a sense of global connection, appearing also in Japanese and Arabic contexts, though these uses are less common in American records.
Awa has multiple origins. In West Africa, particularly among the Akan of Ghana, it is a day name for a girl born on Thursday (related to Yaa). In Japanese, it can mean 'foam' or 'bubble' or be a diminutive of names like Awako. It also appears as a short form of Arabic names like A'isha (Aisha) in some regions, though this is less common.
Where Awa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Awa” around the world
Where Awa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
230
babies in 2024
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Awaa, Auwa
Sibling names for Awa
Names that share Awa's style, for a brother or sister.
