calendar_today Day of birth
Fon names by day of birth
The azǎngbényí system: each day of the week gives the child a different name. Discover this ancestral Fon tradition.
Azǎngbényí: the name of the day
The word azǎngbényí comes from azǎn (day) + gbé (day of the week) + nyí (name). It is the first name a Fon child receives at birth, determined automatically by the day on which they are born.
This system is shared with other Akan and Gbe peoples of West Africa (the Ashanti of Ghana have a similar system). It reflects the belief that the day of birth shapes the character of the child.
The 7 days and their names
| Day (Fon) | Boy | Daughter | Character trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tɛ́nígbé (Mon) | Adjovi | Adjovi | Calm, thoughtful |
| Talàtágbé (Tue) | Comlan | Aholou | Brave, determined |
| Azángagbé (Wed) | Azonyiho | Azonyiho | Wise, balanced |
| Nyɔ́núgbé (Thu) | Yao | Yawa | Sociable, cheerful |
| Axɔ́súgbé (Fri) | Kofi | Afi | Leader, ambitious |
| Síɖígbé (Sat) | Asiba | Asiba | Mysterious, spiritual |
| Vodúngbé (Sun) | Kossi | Kossivi | Blessed, protected by the spirits |
Vodúngbé: the sacred day
Children born on a Sunday (Vodúngbé = day of the Vodun) are considered especially blessed. The name Kossi (boy) or Kossivi (girl) is highly respected because it means the child was “born under the protection of the deities”.
Is this tradition still alive?
Yes, absolutely. Even in urban, modern families in Benin, the birth-day name remains the first name given to the child. It rarely appears on official documents (where a French first name is often used), but it is the name by which the family and community call the child day to day.
In the diaspora, many Beninese people know their azǎngbényí and pass it on to their children born abroad, keeping a living link with Fon culture.
Test yourself!
What name is given to a boy born on a Sunday ?
Behind every first name, there is a whole language.
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