MallowbyNames

Adrian

AY-dree-un · From Latin Hadrianus, 'man from Hadria,' the ancient town that gave the Adriatic Sea its name.

2025 rank (boys)
#74
Babies named in 2025
4,464
Peak popularity
2008
2025 frequency
1 in 383 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Declining since 2009

Declining since 2009, #74 for boys today.

Popularity of Adrian since 1880

Babies named Adrian per year in U.S. Social Security records.

2.6k5.3k7.9k1880192019602000Most births 2008GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirlsBoys
1880s0148
1890s0196
1900s0312
1910s1111,901
1920s1342,741
1930s2162,176
1940s5132,639
1950s9854,057
1960s1,5817,672
1970s2,43518,912
1980s3,74728,140
1990s2,67441,982
2000s1,79066,122
2010s1,16165,986
2020s37029,281

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few 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

Variants: Adrián, Adrien, Adriano, Hadrian, Adriana

Famous people named Adrian

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.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

A is for Adrian, our favorite little boy.

A is for Adrian…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Adrian's letter becomes Adrian's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Adrian's book

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Questions parents ask

What does Adrian mean?
Adrian comes from the Latin Hadrianus, meaning 'man from Hadria,' an ancient Italian town. The same place name gave the Adriatic Sea its name.
How popular is Adrian?
Adrian ranked 74th for American boys in 2025, given to about one in every 383 boys. It peaked in 2008 and has been sliding gently since 2009.
Is Adrian a boy or girl name?
In the United States, Adrian is used overwhelmingly for boys; the feminine forms Adriana and Adrienne cover the girls' side. The Rocky films' female Adrian is a memorable exception, not the rule.
How do you pronounce Adrian?
In English it is AY-dree-un. Spanish speakers stress the final syllable, ah-dree-AHN, usually written Adrián.
Where is Adrian most popular?
Its strongest states are Nevada, New Mexico, and Delaware, with the Southwestern lean reflecting the name's popularity among Latino families.