Adrian
Adrian was the 74th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 4,464 babies. Its best year was 2008, when it ranked 56th with 7,938 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 16 places. More babies were named Adrian in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Hadria · Latin
Say it AY-dree-uhn /ˈeɪdriən/
- Rank in 2025
- #74 boys, down 16 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 4,464boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20087,938 babies
- Total since 1880
- 287,982babies recorded
What does the name Adrian mean?
Adrian comes from the Roman name Hadrianus, 'from Hadria'. Two Italian towns bore that name: Adria in the north, which gave its name to the Adriatic Sea, and Atri in central Italy, where the emperor Hadrian's family came from. The place name itself is old and of uncertain, probably pre-Latin, origin. DMNES lists early martyrs and several popes named Adrian, including Adrian IV, the only English pope, and finds the name in English records from the 16th century. Adriana and Adrienne are feminine forms.
Hadriānus (Latin, “from Hadria”)Hadria (Latin, “town name: Adria (northern Italy) and Atri (central Italy)”)
How sure is this? Well established. The meaning 'from Hadria' is agreed; the origin of the place name Hadria itself is uncertain.
Related names: Hadrian, Adrián, Adriano, Adrien, Adriana.
See also: Latin names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Adrian', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Adrian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Adrian', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Adrian popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 15,717 since 1911, 41 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #74 | 4,464 |
| 2020 | #58 | 5,321 |
| 2010 | #56 | 7,409 |
| 2000 | #78 | 5,341 |
| 1990 | #94 | 4,000 |
| 1980 | #115 | 2,393 |
| 1970 | #200 | 1,295 |
| 1960 | #327 | 555 |
| 1950 | #390 | 298 |
| 1940 | #370 | 237 |
| 1930 | #410 | 205 |
| 1920 | #348 | 284 |
| 1910 | #415 | 42 |
| 1900 | #430 | 27 |
| 1890 | #434 | 17 |
| 1880 | #403 | 18 |
How popular is Adrian, counting every spelling?
Adrian is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #81 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #74 for Adrian on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,471 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | 4,464 | #74 | 23,960 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Adrian?
4,464 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Adrian (1.24 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Adrian born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 43. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 2 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Adrian.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Adrian?
About 254,100 people born in the US named Adrian are alive today, with a median age of 21; half are between 12 and 34. That makes Adrian mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Adrian by state
How common Adrian was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (2.2×), New Mexico (2.0×), District of Columbia (2.0×), Nevada (1.9×), California (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Adrian: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Adrian, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Adrian · Sibling names for Adrian
Questions about the name Adrian
What does Adrian mean?
Adrian means “from Hadria” (Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Adrian?
Adrian was the 74th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 4,464 babies. Its best year was 2008, when it ranked 56th with 7,938 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 16 places. More babies were named Adrian in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Adrian a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Adrian in the US.
Where is Adrian most popular?
In 2021–2025, Adrian was most common in Rhode Island (6.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Mexico and District of Columbia.