Declining since 2009, #74 for boys today.
Popularity of Adrian since 1880
Babies named Adrian per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 148 |
| 1890s | 0 | 196 |
| 1900s | 0 | 312 |
| 1910s | 111 | 1,901 |
| 1920s | 134 | 2,741 |
| 1930s | 216 | 2,176 |
| 1940s | 513 | 2,639 |
| 1950s | 985 | 4,057 |
| 1960s | 1,581 | 7,672 |
| 1970s | 2,435 | 18,912 |
| 1980s | 3,747 | 28,140 |
| 1990s | 2,674 | 41,982 |
| 2000s | 1,790 | 66,122 |
| 2010s | 1,161 | 65,986 |
| 2020s | 370 | 29,281 |
Meaning & origin
An emperor's name that wears lightly, Adrian traces to Hadrianus, 'man from Hadria', borne by the Roman ruler whose wall still crosses northern England, a run of early saints, and the only English pope. Centuries of that pedigree sit behind what now sounds like a soft, modern three-syllable name.
Its American peak came in 2008, and it has been easing since 2009, but the decline is shallow: Adrian still ranked No. 74 in 2025, when roughly one in every 383 boys received it. Nevada and New Mexico lead its state map, the Spanish form Adrián keeps the name vital across the Southwest, with Delaware an East Coast outlier.
Stylistically Adrian belongs with Julian, Damian, and Sebastian: Latin, melodic, and equally at home in English and Spanish, which is precisely the profile that has kept it durable while flashier names cycle through.
Adrian descends from the Roman cognomen Hadrianus, 'man from Hadria', a town in northern Italy whose name also survives in the Adriatic Sea. The emperor Hadrian, builder of the wall across Britain, is the most famous ancient bearer, and the name was carried by several early saints and six popes, including Adrian IV, the only Englishman ever to hold the papacy. Long used quietly across Europe, it gained real American traction in the late twentieth century, helped by the Spanish form Adrián among Latino families, and reached its US peak in 2008.
Read more: Adrian on Wikipedia
Where Adrian is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Adrian” around the world
Where Adrian lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
190
babies in 2024
Ireland
11
babies in 2025
New Zealand
16
babies in 2025
Quebec
27
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ade, Adri
Famous people named Adrian
- Adrian Peterson · record-setting NFL running back
- Adrian Newey · the most successful car designer in Formula One history
Sibling names for Adrian
Names that share Adrian's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Ariana, Bianca, Elena, Camille, Sofia, Emilia, Adriana, Adrienne, Claudia, Hilary, Marina, Miranda, Serena, Sidney, Silvia, Valeria, Viviana, Adelina, Adilene, Adria, Adriane, Adrianna, Alexi, Aliana, Alica, Alondra, Amairani, Amairany, Anahi, Anais, Antonia, Audriana, Audrina, Avianna, Callista, Candida, Carina, Carlina, Celene, Corina, Corinna, Corinne, Dayanara, Domonique, Eloisa, Fabiola, Gillian, Ileana, Iliana, Jordana, Katalina, Lorena, Mariel, Mariely, Marlena, Melanee, Melina, Meryl, Nicholette, Nicolette, Nicolle, Noelia, Paulina, Renata, Rosalina, Roxanna, Sabina, Sabrina, Salina, Selina, Sirena, Stephania, Tierra, Valencia, Valery, Vianey, Violeta, Yamileth, Yuliana, Abriana, Adamari, Adamaris, Adrina, Alanis, Aleida, Allegra, Analee, Anali, Analy, Andriana, Anessa, Arica, Arrianna, Audrianna, Celena, Cesia, Dacia, Dariana, Darianna, Delena, Delicia, Dyanna, Elicia, Emiliana, Flavia, Gema, Gissell, Harmonie, Haydee, Illiana, Jacquelene, Janella, Jocelin, Julisa, Katrena, Klarissa, Latina, Lianne, Lisandra, Lisset, Luanna, Malayna, Marena, Marlana, Melania, Meranda, Mignon, Oriana, Orianna, Petrina, Rianna, Rozlyn, Sebrina, Venetia, Veronika, Vivianna, Aarika, Abria, Adamary, Adessa, Adonna, Adreana, Adrena, Adrielle, Adrienna, Adrionna, Adryana, Adryanna, Alandra, Alanys, Alexiana, Aliciana, Alinda, Allianna, Amarianna, Anasia, Andraya, Andrena, Andreya, Andrianna, Anetra, Angelise, Angelly, Anglia, Anjelina, Antasia, Arianah, Arieana, Arienne, Artavia, Asiana, Avila, Aviona, Belicia, Berenise, Biridiana, Brianca, Catalaya, Cecillia, Cerena, Cerina, Cesilia, Charlet, Cipriana, Corianne, Corinn, Cristel, Cyntia, Dallana, Damara, Damia, Damiana, Darielle, Daviana, Davianna, Demaria, Demia, Denisa, Diania, Dorianne, Elyanna, Ericia, Eugena, Felina, Felita, Florina, Francia, Genessa, Helina, Hilarie, Ianna, Idania, Ilianna, Illeana, Illianna, Irean, Iriana, Iridian, Jacqulin, Janeane, Janira, Janissa, Jaquetta, Julaine, Julieana, Justyne, Kalysta, Karianna, Karinna, Katiana, Katrinia, Korinna, Lecia, Leondra, Letecia, Letisia, Letticia, Lilianne, Lisseth, Lissett, Lizandra, Loriana, Lorianna, Lorien, Lyanne, Malaia, Malasia, Maressa, Maribell, Marinna, Marysa, Maurissa, Media, Melaina, Meliza, Milliana, Myria, Natally, Nayelly, Ondrea, Patrisia, Romayne, Sabreena, Sabryna, Saleena, Santanna, Sareena, Seline, Siomara, Souline, Talina, Tamora, Tannia, Terina, Terressa, Terriana, Terrianna, Toriana, Tristina, Vallerie, Vallery, Vaneza, Venise, Vianka, Vivica, Xareni, Yahira, Yuriana, Yvanna, Zandria, Adalida, Adalis, Adaliz, Adamarys, Adana, Adanya, Adasia, Adiana, Adianna, Adonia, Adonica, Adrianah, Adrie, Adrieanna, Adriella, Adriyanna, Alesana, Amarissa, Anahis, Analina, Analisia, Anaria, Anelia, Anelis, Angelisse, Anissia, Annaliza, Antania, Antoria, Anysia, Arasely, Arelia, Arhianna, Arianelly, Arielis, Audreana, Audreyana, Audrielle, Auriana, Aurielle, Averianna, Avriana, Avrielle, Biviana, Brisia, Camielle, Caria, Cariana, Carinne, Carolyna, Catalea, Catalyna, Celenia, Celicia, Celisa, Celise, Cherisse, Corrinna, Cynthea, Daliana, Dalphine, Darienne, Davine, Debanhi, Demiana, Deyanna, Doriann, Elanda, Elania, Elianne, Elianys, Elisandra, Eraina, Eriona, Errica, Esbeidy, Eugina, Evalise, Evonna, Eyvette, Fabianna, Falecia, Felishia, Felissa, Genova, Graciana, Hiliana, Illyanna, Ilyssa, Irianna, Isella, Ivianna, Ivyana, Jacquiline, Jaima, Janeliz, Jannessa, Jelina, Jestina, Jilliana, Kateria, Kathalina, Katriana, Kitrina, Klaryssa, Korena, Kristelle, Krystiana, Ladana, Laritza, Lariza, Larrissa, Lauriel, Laurisa, Lenea, Liliani, Lissandra, Loriel, Madine, Marcea, Marcina, Mareena, Maricia, Mariesa, Marili, Mauriana, Mauricia, Meleena, Melessia, Meliana, Melinna, Meriel, Merina, Millianna, Mirranda, Morelia, Morena, Nadalie, Natalea, Patina, Prisila, Ravenna, Renada, Sabrine, Sabrinia, Saprina, Seleena, Sereena, Serenna, Seryna, Sinthia, Slyvia, Subrena, Tabria, Taliana, Teriana, Valaree, Valaria, Valecia, Valera, Valicia, Valisa, Vanassa, Vanessia, Vanissa, Varonica, Veleria, Velicia, Veroncia, Vidalia, Yanette, Yulitza, Zarianna, Zerina, Alicianna, Alyda, Anelisse, Celines, Eriyana, Livianna, Marleena, Simmone, Sylina, Tamsyn, Yarieliz, Abrina, Adabella, Adanely, Adaria, Adeana, Adeliz, Adoria, Adreanne, Adreena, Adrieana, Adriena, Adriona, Adriyana, Airica, Alaria, Alecea, Alichia, Aliviana, Alonia, Amariona, Amarisa, Anairis, Anaissa, Analycia, Anamari, Anderia, Andrya, Anisia, Anitria, Anjolina, Annahi, Arelie, Ariatna, Arienna, Arisbel, Arryana, Audrena, Averiana, Avilene, Belanna, Belina, Brendaliz, Calandria, Carinna, Cartina, Cassandr, Catalena, Cathaleya, Chanele, Christionna, Dabria, Daianna, Danelia, Danniela, Dariane, Dariann, Dariella, Darriana, Deliana, Derriana, Dianca, Domini, Doriana, Dorianna, Driana, Ellesse, Faydra, Felcia, Idaliz, Idelia, Iliani, Irelia, Iridiana, Jadine, Janelli, Jariana, Julena, Julicia, Keriana, Koraima, Kristiane, Lareta, Larrisa, Laurelyn, Lauriana, Lavana, Lawrencia, Letetia, Lianette, Lianni, Loreena, Lorelee, Loreley, Lorenia, Lorenna, Lorrane, Mairany, Marchella, Mariena, Marisah, Masina, Mayline, Monicia, Nataline, Nefeli, Norelle, Ondine, Pavielle, Quintara, Reginna, Relena, Riviera, Roselena, Roshanna, Saphyra, Saryna, Satina, Satoria, Satrina, Selyna, Serana, Serenah, Serrena, Tariana, Tattiana, Taviana, Titiana, Totiana, Valeen, Valerya, Valerye, Valina, Valine, Valissa, Valyncia, Velencia, Venissa, Verania, Verenise, Yameli, Yariana, Yarianna, Yariela, Yarissa, Yasenia, Yobana, Zorianna
Brothers: Julian, Damian, Sebastian, Marcus, Xavier, Christian, Angel, Cristian, Damien, Victor, Aryan, Dominik, Dorien, Elian, Fabian, Jullian, Lucian, Marcell, Marice, Quintin, Sabastian, Tristan, Valentin, Abriel, Adryan, Cecilio, Corin, Exavier, Favian, Florian, Geovanny, Geovany, Romello, Terance, Andrik, Anthon, Ariyan, Cezar, Dameion, Denys, Edrian, Eliu, Froylan, Jeovanny, Jhoan, Julion, Kadrian, Lucan, Neftaly, Nicanor, Octaviano, Orian, Oriel, Severin, Sorin, Taveon, Toriano, Valerian, Varian, Xadrian, Yovanni, Yovanny, Yulian, Adarian, Aldair, Alexio, Andrian, Andriel, Arrion, Decorian, Delfino, Devian, Domenik, Eliano, Emilian, Erice, Feliciano, Gabrian, Jadarian, Jarion, Jovin, Marcellis, Marcellous, Octavion, Ronrico, Sabien, Zadrian, Cedrik, Daemian, Abrian, Adante, Adriell, Ardian, Arrian, Aurel, Clarion, Dacian, Daemien, Daimien, Dameian, Danarius, Devario, Domonik, Isandro, Ismar, Jadian, Kadian, Leondro, Leonte, Luian, Marcelus, Marsel, Ramces
Names like Adrian
Names whose popularity has moved with Adrian's over the last 50 years.

