Ama
AH-MAH
Ama is an Akan day name from Ghana, traditionally given to girls born on a Saturday. The Akan day-naming system, known as 'kra din', assigns a soul name to a child based on the day of the week of their birth, each day carrying its own spiritual significance. Saturday's name for girls is Ama or Amma, and it is believed to convey a particular strength of character and independence. The name is also associated with water in some West African traditions.
At a glance
A beautiful Akan day name for girls born on Saturday, Ama is short, strong, and carries the warmth of West African naming tradition.
Etymology & History
Ama belongs to the Akan 'kra din' system of soul names, used by the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast. Each day of the week has a corresponding male and female soul name, and Ama is the Saturday name for girls. The Akan language, part of the Niger-Congo family, uses these names to link a child's identity to the cosmic significance of their birth day. The variant Amma is also widely used and the two forms are largely interchangeable.
Cultural Significance
Among the Akan people, day names are not merely labels but carry spiritual weight, reflecting the belief that the day of birth influences personality and destiny. Saturday's female name, Ama, is associated with strong-willed, independent women. In Ghana and among the Akan diaspora, these names remain in active everyday use. The name gained international profile through the literary career of Ama Ata Aidoo, whose work has been studied across the world and who has brought visibility to Ghanaian naming customs.
Famous people named Ama
Ama Ata Aidoo
Celebrated Ghanaian author, poet, and playwright, one of Africa's foremost literary voices and a leading figure in post-colonial African literature
Ama Owusu
Contemporary Ghanaian academic and writer whose work has contributed to the visibility of Akan naming traditions internationally
Frequently Asked Questions
Names like Ama
Abena
“Born on Tuesday”
Abena is an Akan day name given to girls born on Tuesday. In the Akan tradition of Ghana, every child receives a name corresponding to the day of the week on which they were born, connecting them to the spiritual qualities associated with that day. Tuesday is linked to the ocean and carries associations of depth, compassion, and reliability.
Adwoa
“Born on Monday, gentle spirit”
Adwoa is an Akan day name from Ghana given to girls born on Monday. The Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast assign special names to children based on the day of the week of their birth, each day carrying its own spiritual energy. Monday children are considered gentle, patient, and spiritually attuned.
Akua
“Born on Wednesday”
Akua is an Akan day name from Ghana given to girls born on a Wednesday. The Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast traditionally assign a soul name, known as a kra din, to every child based on the day of their birth, and these names carry spiritual as well as cultural significance. Wednesday is associated with intelligence, creativity, and a certain gentle independence of spirit. Akua is the feminine form; the male equivalent for Wednesday is Kweku. The practice of Akan day naming connects each child to a broader cosmological order, making Akua far more than a pleasant sound: it is a statement of origin, timing, and character.
Amara
“Grace, mercy, kindness”
Amara carries meanings across multiple African languages, most notably 'grace' or 'mercy' in Igbo, and 'eternal' or 'unfading' in several other traditions. It is a name that resonates across cultures with themes of beauty and enduring worth.
Where you'll find Ama
Ama shows up in these curated collections across Namekin.