Total births
818
Boys' name · since 1971
Kwesi
Since 1971, U.S. Social Security records show 818 babies named Kwesi, peaking in 1977. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7361
- among boys today
- 818
- born since 1971
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other boys
Kwesi currently ranks #7361 among boys' names in America, with 818 babies recorded since 1971.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kwesi has been recorded 818 times among boys since 1971, currently ranked #7361 nationally and more common than 49% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2025.
- #7361 among boys today
- 818 born since 1971
- 1990s peak decade
- 49% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Kwesi is currently the #7361 boys' name in America, more common than 49% of boys - 818 born since 1971, peaking in the 1990s.
- #7361
- among boys today
- 818
- born since 1971
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other boys
Kwesi vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#7361
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 49% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
24% of everyone ever named Kwesi was born in this single decade.
1977
Single peak year
31 babies were named Kwesi in 1977 - its busiest year on record.
How Kwesi compares
818 Top 34% higher than 66% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Kwesi's all-time total is 123% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kwesi | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 818 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 31 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kwesi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kwesi's SSA record in two at 1998 and the more recent half accounts for 41% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 59%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1987, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1977 peak of 31, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kwesi at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1977
Current rank
#7,361
Active since
1971
Kwesi popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2025
- Peak year (1977)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 55 years of records
Kwesi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Kwesi's strongest decade.
199 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Kwesi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
196 births
- 1980s
1980s
118 births
- 1990s
1990s
199 births
- 2000s
2000s
172 births
- 2010s
2010s
80 births
- 2020s 53
2020s
53 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 199 births (24% of all-time use).
How Kwesi compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Kwesi's total volume
Kwesi vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Kwesi by state
Where Kwesi concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 104 | 12.7% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 13 | 1.6% |
| #3 | California | | 12 | 1.5% |
New York share of Kwesi's total US births 12.7%
Even split
104 of 818 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kwesi? ▼
818 babies have been named Kwesi since 1971. It currently ranks #7361 among boys. The peak year was 1977 with 31 births.
When was Kwesi most popular? ▼
Kwesi was most popular in the 1990s decade with 199 total births. The single peak year was 1977.
Where is Kwesi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kwesi are New York (104 births), Michigan (13 births), California (12 births).
How long has the name Kwesi been used? ▼
Records for Kwesi go back to 1971, giving 55 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Kwesi? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kweli, Kweku, Kweisi, Kwentin, and 2 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kwesi's data
- Kwesi's decade-level peak was the 1990s (199 total births); usage has since declined to 53 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Kwesis (104 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kwesi
Nearby Names Like Kwesi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kwesi
Kweli Boy
228 births
Kweku Boy
81 births
Kweisi Boy
49 births
Kwentin Boy
24 births
Kwest Boy
11 births
Compare Kwesi side by side: Kwesi vs Kweli Kwesi vs Kweku Kwesi vs Kweisi
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kwesi
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1971–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kwesi: #7361 Boys' Name - 818 Births, Peak 1977." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kwesi. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kwesi draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.