{{Short description|Given name among the Akan people}} {{use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox given name |name=Akosua |image=|imagesize=|caption= |pronunciation= |gender=Female |meaning=born on a Sunday |region=Akan people |origin=Akan people |related names= * Adwoa (Monday) * Abena (Tuesday) * Akua (Wednesday) * Yaa (Thursday) * Afia (Friday) * Ama (Saturday) |footnotes=|wikt=}} {{wiktionary}}
'''Akosua''' is an Akan given name to a female child born on Sunday (Kwasiada).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|title=The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239815297|first=Kofi Kofi |last=Agyekum|access-date=2021-04-06|journal=Nordic Journal of African Studies|language=en|doi=10.53228/njas.v15i2.24|date=January 2006|volume=15 |issue=2 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Kamunya|first=Mercy|date=2018-10-19|title=Akan names and their meanings|url=https://yen.com.gh/115080-akan-names-meanings.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news.|language=en}}</ref> It is mostly practised by all Akan (i.e Ashanti, Akuapem, Akyem, Akwamu, Bono, Fante) people who follow traditional customs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The sociolinguistic of Akan personal names |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239815297 |website=Researchgate |page=214}}</ref> People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Akosua has the appellation Dampo meaning agility. Thus, females named Akosua are supposed to be agile.<ref name=":0" />
== Origin and meaning == In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Akosua is originated from Koyasi and from the Lord of Life Descent deity of the day Sunday.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2019-11-09|title='Day born names' in Dagbani, Ewe and Fante|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Day-born-names-in-Dagbani-Ewe-and-Fante-797733|access-date=2021-04-06|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism| url=https://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/8691/the-akan-day-names-and-their-embedded-ancient-symb.html|first=Vanessa |last=Danso|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref> Females born on Sunday are known to be leaders in society or "clearer of the way" (obue-akwan). They are very inquisitive and tend to be pulled into a thing of interest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
== Female variants == Day names in Ghana have varying spellings. This is so because of the various Akan subgroups. Each Akan subgroup has a similar or different spelling for the day name to other Akan subgroups.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Akosua is spelt Akosua by the Akuapem, Akyem, Akwamu, Bono and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as Esi.<ref name=":2" />
== Male version == 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 male child born on Sunday is Kwasi or Akwasi.<ref name=":2" />
== 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:
* Akosua Addai Amoo (born 1990), Ghanaian sports journalist * Akosua Busia (born 1966), Ghanaian actress, film director, author and songwriter<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Akosua: Name Meaning, Popularity, and Similar Names|url=https://nameberry.com/|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Nameberry|language=en-US}}</ref> * Akosua Serwaa (born 1981), Ghanaian middle-distance runner<ref name=":4" /> * Akosua Frema Osei Opare (born 1947), Ghanaian politician<ref name=":4" /> * Rebecca "Becca" Akosua Acheampomaa Acheampong (born 1984), Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress<ref name=":4" /> * Akosua Adoma Owusu (born 1984), Ghanaian-American filmmaker and producer * Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Ghanaian academic * Akosua Agyapong (born 1959), Ghanaian female highlife singer <!--already listed above* Akosua Busia, Ghanaian actress, film director, author and songwriter-->
== See also == {{canned search|Akousa}} * Akwasi * {{intitle}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Akan given names Category:Feminine given names Category:Sunday Category:African feminine given names