Holding steady, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Yaw since 1973
Babies named Yaw per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 21 |
| 1980s | 37 |
| 1990s | 90 |
| 2000s | 114 |
| 2010s | 92 |
| 2020s | 51 |
Meaning & origin
Yaw is an Akan day name from Ghana, given to boys born on Thursday. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1973, reflecting diaspora communities. The name reached its peak rank of 10,695 in 2025, and it has held a stable trajectory over time, appearing most frequently in states with sizable Ghanaian-American populations. This cultural naming tradition gives each day of the week a specific name, and Yaw is one of the less common day names used in the United States, reflecting its strong cultural roots.
Yaw is a Ghanaian Akan day name given to a boy born on Thursday. In Akan culture, each day has a corresponding name, and Yaw specifically refers to Thursday-born males. The name is part of a long-standing tradition that assigns spiritual and social significance to the day of birth.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Yaw
Names that share Yaw's style, for a brother or sister.
