Adrian
Adrian is a unisex name of Latin origin meaning “from Hadria, dark one.” It ranked #74 in the United States in 2025. Derived from the Roman family name Hadrianus, referring to the city of Hadria in northern Italy.
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how do you pronounce Adrian?
AY-dree-un
where does the name Adrian come from?
From the Latin Hadrianus, meaning of Hadria — a town in northern Italy that also gave its name to the Adriatic Sea. The initial H was lost in most modern languages, and the sense of dark one sometimes attached to the name comes from a secondary association with Latin ater, meaning black.
The name was borne by several Roman emperors and six popes, including Pope Adrian IV, the only English pope.
the history of Adrian
The Emperor Hadrian, who ruled from 117 to 138, is remembered in Britain for the wall that still crosses the country from the Tyne to the Solway. Six popes have taken the name; Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, remains the only English pope. The name has been in continuous English use since the Middle Ages without ever becoming commonplace.
how popular is this name?
Adrian has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #56 in 2008, and ranked #74 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #74 |
| 2024 | #72 |
| 2023 | #67 |
| 2022 | #63 |
| 2021 | #61 |
| 2020 | #58 |
| 2019 | #56 |
| 2018 | #62 |
| 2017 | #58 |
| 2016 | #60 |
| 2010 | #56 |
| 2008 | #56 |
| 2000 | #78 |
| 1990 | #94 |
| 1980 | #115 |
| 1970 | #200 |
| 1960 | #327 |
| 1950 | #390 |
| 1940 | #370 |
| 1930 | #410 |
| 1920 | #348 |
| 1910 | #415 |
| 1900 | #430 |
| 1890 | #434 |
| 1880 | #403 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Adrian fell outside the top 1,000.
what are the nicknames and variants of Adrian?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Adrian?
- Adrian Grenier (American actor)
- Adrian Tchaikovsky (author)
- Hadrian (Roman Emperor)
what names are similar to Adrian?
what names go well with Adrian?
Sibling names that share Adrian's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Adrian
What does the name Adrian mean?
Adrian means “from Hadria, dark one”.
What is the origin of the name Adrian?
Adrian comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Adrien, Adriano, Hadrian and Adrián.
How popular is the name Adrian?
Adrian ranked #74 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2008, at #56, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Adrian a boy or girl name?
Adrian is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Adrian?
Adrian is pronounced AY-dree-un, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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