Afua or Efua is an Akan day name traditionally given to girls born on a Friday. The equivalent male name is Kofi. The name originates from the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, who have a long-standing cultural practice of naming children after the day of the week on which they were born. These names are known as kradin (soul names) and are deeply tied to the spiritual and social identity of the individual. Etymology and Cultural Significance The root of Afua is the Akan word for Friday. In Akan tradition, each day of the week has a corresponding soul name for both males and females, and these names are believed to influence the character and destiny of the bearer. Afua, like other day names, is not just a label but a marker of cultural heritage and lineage. Variants and Related Forms Common variants of Afua include Afia and Efua. Among the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo, and Benin, the equivalent Friday-born name for females is Afi. These forms highlight the interconnectedness of languages and cultures in West Africa, where the tradition of day-naming extends across ethnic groups. Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the name Afua include: Afua Adwo Jectey Hesse, Ghanaian paediatric surgeon and former president of the Medical Women's International Association Afua Bruce, American engineer, data executive, professor, and politician Afua Cooper (born 1957), Canadian historian and dub poet born in Jamaica Afua Hirsch (born 1981), British writer, broadcaster, and former barrister born in Norway Afua Kobi (fl. 1834–1884), Asantehemaa (Queen Mother) of the Ashanti Empire Afua Kuma (1908–1987), Ghanaian Christian oral theologian and poet Afua Osei, American entrepreneur and co-founder of She Leads Africa Afua Richardson (born 1980), African–Native American comic book artist Meaning: "born on Friday" Origin: Akan (Ghana, Ivory Coast) Type: Day name (kradin) Regions Used: West Africa, particularly Ghana; also in the diaspora Variants: Afia, Efua; Afi (in Ewe)