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Adrian

AY-dree-un, a-dree-AN or a-dree-an
Latin
"man of Adria"
Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Mon Apr 22 2024

Adrian Origin and Meaning

The name Adrian is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "man of Adria".

Adrian is one of those names that’s easy to picture on all kinds of people. From an active and energetic five-year-old to your great grandpa, from the coolest, breeziest guy you know, to the quiet, serious one, it’s no wonder Adrian has always made the US Top 500 since the early 20th century.

Trending upwards since the 60’s and breaking in the Top 100 in the 90’s, Adrian has remained a solid choice for boys. Popular across Europe and in some parts of South America, Africa, and Aisa too, Adrian is a well-travelled and international choice.

Derived from Hadrianus, a Roman family name meaning ‘from Hadria’, Adrian is associated with two ancient settlements in Italy – Adria, a northern port town, and Atri, in central Italy.

Hadrianus itself is likely to have derived from an Illyrian word meaning “sea” or “water”, leading some scholars to record Adrian’s meaning as ‘from the sea,” making it consideration for those wanting an ocean inspired name.

Adrian has been in use since the Middle Ages and is the name of several saints and six popes. It has been a favorite in England since the 1950’s and appears in different forms across the world, from the Italian Adriano to the feminine forms Adriana and Adrienne.

The versatile Adrian is used frequently in pop culture and notable Adrians include Adrian Mole, the eponymous character of Sue Townend’s comedic novels and Adrian Chase, an anti-hero in the TV show “Arrow.” Appearing in Harry Potter, the works of Shakespeare and the Marvel Universe too, Adrian isn’t short of namesakes.

Ranking highly in Spain, Norway, and Sweden, and given to over 5000 American boys every year, Adrian is a solid, international choice. If you love the name but would prefer more unexpected however, you could try Caspian, Ariel, Kylian, Alasdair, Lucian, or Dorian.

# 63 in the US

Adrian Rank in US Top 1000

# 135 on Nameberry

Adrian Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Adrian Popularity

Famous People Named Adrian

  • Adrian YoungAmerican drummer for the rock band No Doubt
  • Adrian IVI, popes, including Adrian IV, the only English pope
  • Saint Adrian of BataneaChristian martyr
  • Saint Adrian of CanterburyAbbot of St Augustine's Abbey
  • Saint Adrian of MayScottish martyr
  • Saint Adrian of OndrusovRussian Orthodox saint
  • Saint Adrian of PoshekhonyeRussian Orthodox saint
  • Adrian of MoscowPatriarch of Moscow and All Russia
  • Adrian of NicomediaHerculian Guard of Galerius Maximian
  • Adrian CruickshankAustralian politician and philanthropist
  • Adrian DixCanadian politician
  • Adrian JohnsEnglish governor of Gibraltar
  • Adrian ArringtonAmerican NFL player
  • Adrian AucoinCanadian National Hockey League player
  • Adrian CannCanadian soccer player
  • Adrian ClaybornAmerican NFL player
  • Adrian DantleyAmerican basketball player
  • Adrian GonzalezMexican,American baseball player
  • Adrian GriffinAmerican basketball player
  • Adrian HeathEnglish footballer and manager
  • Adrian JonesAmerican football player
  • Adrian JonesEnglish former cricketer
  • Adrian LeijerAustralian footballer
  • Adrian LunguRomanian rugby union footballer
  • Adrian MannarinoFrench tennis player
  • Adrian MariappaEnglish footballer
  • Adrian McPhersonAmerican quarterback in the Canadian Football League
  • Adrian (Adolph Greenberg)costume designer for over 250 films
  • Adrian AlphonaCanadian comic book artist
  • Adrian BelewAmerican musician
  • Adrian BiddleEnglish cinematographer
  • Adrian BorlandEnglish singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer
  • Adrian BoultEnglish conductor
  • Adrian ChilesBritish television and radio presenter
  • Adrian DunbarNorthern Irish actor
  • Adrian "Ade" EdmondsonEnglish actor, comedian, director, writer and musician
  • Adrian EnescuRomanian composer
  • Adrian ErlandssonSwedish heavy metal drummer
  • Adrian GrenierAmerican actor, musician and director
  • Adrian GurvitzEnglish singer, musician and songwriter
  • Adrian GriffinAustralian drummer
  • Adrian HaslerPrime Minister of Liechstenstein
  • Adrian HeathBritish painter
  • Adrian HodgesBritish television and film writer
  • Adrian HovenAustrian actor, producer and film director
  • Adrian JonesEnglish sculptor and painter who specialized in animals, particularly horses
  • Adrian KowanekPolish musician
  • Adrian LeggEnglish guitar player
  • Adrian LesterBritish actor
  • Adrian LukisBritish actor
  • Adrian LyneEnglish filmmaker and producer
  • Adrian MitchellEnglish poet, novelist and playwright
  • Adrian PasdarAmerican actor and film director
  • Adrian PaulEnglish actor
  • Adrian RawlinsEnglish actor
  • Adrian RolliniAmerican jazz musician
  • Adrian ScarboroughEnglish actor
  • Adrian SherwoodEnglish record producer
  • Adrian SieberSwiss singer of band Lovebugs
  • Adrian SmithEnglish musician of band Iron Maiden
  • Adrian TrussEnglish actor and writer
  • Adrian UtleyEnglish musician of band Portishead
  • Adrian VandenbergDutch rock guitarist
  • Adrian WillaertFlemish composer of the Renaissance and founder of the Venetian School
  • Adrian ZinggSwiss painter
  • Adrian ZmedAmerican television personality and film actor
  • Adrian Simonson of American musicians Paul Simon and Edie Brickell
  • Adrian Dovolani (b. 2008)son of dancer Tony Dovolani; twin sister Ariana
  • Adrian Eli Wrease (b. 2010)son of Cleondra Carter and Michael Wrease of TV's "16 and Pregnant"
  • Adrian Ellory Followill (b. 2013)son of musicians Matthew Followill and Johanna Bennett
  • Adrian Benjamin Colonomos (b. 2015)son of TV presenters Ginger Zee and Ben Aaron

Adrian in Pop Culture

  • Adrian Andrewscharacter in video game "Ace Attorney"
  • Adrian Puceycharacter in the "Harry Potter" series
  • Adrian Monkneurotic TV detective on "Monk"
  • Adrianbaby in film "Rosemary's Baby"
  • Adrian Penninowife of Rocky Balboa
  • Adrian Leefemale character from "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"
  • Adrian Molecharacter in a series of novels by Sue Townsend
  • Adrian Ivashkovcharacter in the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead
  • Adrian Helmsleycharacter in movie "2012"
  • Adriancharacter in August Bournonville's comic ballet "The Kermesse" in Bruges
  • Adrian Moorecharacter on TV's "Nip/Tuck"
  • Adrian Chase aka Prometheuscharacter on TV's "Arrow"
  • Adrian Toomes aka Vulturecharacter in Marvel Universe
  • Adrian Veidtcharacter in the graphic novel and film "Watchmen"
  • Adrian Seidelmanmale alter ego of comic/animated character Cybersix
  • Adrian Du Luccharacter in the film "Apartment Zero"
  • Adrian Everhartalso known as Sketch, one of the main characters of Marissa Meyer's Renegades novels