Yaw is a unique and distinctive male given name of West African origin, specifically from Ghana where it means 'born on a Thursday'. It's pronounced /yɑː/. Yaw gained prominence due to its association with notable figures like former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose full name was Kofi Atta Annan but was popularly known as Yaw Annan in his early life.
"The name Yaw experienced a notable increase in popularity over time, with a significant jump from 5 births per year in the late 1970s to double-digit figures starting in the late 1990s. The peak occurred in 2002 and 2012 with 16 births each, but it has remained relatively popular until recently, with at least 8 births per year since 2014."