Bessan
/ be-SAN /
- Gender
- Girl
- Origin
- 🇹🇬 Togo
- Religion
- Traditional
- First Seen
- —
- Trait
- Traditional
Meaning & Etymology
born on Sunday
born on Sunday
Etymology
The name ‘Bessan’ is derived from the Ewe day-naming system, where ‘be’ refers to Sunday and ‘san’ is a suffix indicating birth.
Linguistic family: Niger-Congo > Volta-Niger > Gbe
Cultural context
In Togo, particularly among the Tem people, names are often given based on the day of the week a child is born. ‘Bessan’ reflects the cultural practice of day-naming, which is common in many West African societies.
Symbolism
The name ‘Bessan’ symbolises the day of the week a child is born, which is believed to influence their personality and destiny.
Naming ceremony
The Tem people traditionally hold naming ceremonies on the eighth day after a child’s birth, where the child is officially named and introduced to the community.