badge Meaning
The names Kossi / Kossivi: Sunday
Kossi (boy) and Kossivi (girl) are the Sunday names in Fon. Their use extends far beyond the borders of Benin.
Born on a Sunday = Kossi / Kossivi
In the azǎngbényí system (names by day of birth), Sunday — Vodungbe — gives:
“Born under the protection of the Vodun”
Sunday is the day of the Vodun — a sacred day in Fon tradition. A child born that day is considered especially blessed and protected by the deities.
The suffix -vi (child) added to Kossi gives Kossivi — “little Kossi” — a feminine, diminutive version.
A pan-African name
Kossi is also used in other West African cultures (Ewe in Togo and Ghana, Akan in Ghana). Famous Kossis include:
A name that crosses borders
Kossi is found in Benin, Togo, Ghana and in the African diaspora worldwide. It is one of the most widespread West African names.
Sunday as a name
To bear the name Kossi or Kossivi is to carry Sunday and the blessing of the Vodun. A name full of spirituality and joy.
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