Adrian Name Meaning

The name Adrian is Latin and means "son of Adria." It is a form of the name Adrianus (or Hadrianus), a Roman family name meaning "from Hadria." Hadria was a town in northern Italy near the Adriatic Sea.

Although the feminine variation of the name is Adriana or Adrienne, the name Adrian is often still used as a girl name.

How Popular is the Name Adrian?

The name Adrian ranked number 430 on the Social Security Administration's list of top baby names in 1900. The name started to increase in popularity in the 1960s. By 1985, it had broken the top 100. The name Adrian peaked at number 56 a few times, the first in 2010. As of 2020, it is ranked at number 58.

The name Adrian for girls did not enter the top 1,000 list until 1949 at number 873. It fell off the list a few times during the following decade, then started gaining popularity in the 1960s. It peaked in popularity as a girl name in 1983 when it ranked number 439. It dropped off the list in 2001.

These figures likely correlated with a couple of pop-cultural references. From 2002 to 2009, Adrian Monk was the title character of an award-winning television series called "Monk." The actor who played Adrian was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award each year of the series' eight-year run.

The popularity of the "Rocky" movie franchise might also have played a role in promoting the name as an option for girls. The "Rocky" movies premiered in 1976, featuring a female character named Adrian who was Rocky's wife. Five "Rocky" movies were made between the 1970s and 1990.

Name Variations

Adrian is an ancient name that goes as far back as the Etruscan race, an extinct Italic tribe. Spelling variations of the name include:

• Adriann
• Adrien
• Adrion
• Aidrian
• Aydrien

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Adrian:

• Aaron
• Aiden
• Aldan
• Allan
• Alvin
• Anson
• Anton
• Auden
• Austin

Suggested Sibling Names

Here are some sibling names that may be a good fit with Adrian:

• Anthony
• Asher
• Beatrice
• Cecilia
• Dante
• Fabian
• Felicity
• Felix
• Hillary
• Julia
• Laura
• Marcus
• Patricia
• Violet
• Vivian

Famous People Named Adrian

The name Adrian has been in use since the Middle Ages, most notably for popes and politicians. Popular culture has also seen its share of characters named Adrian.

Famous Adrians/Adriens:

• Adrian Gonzalez, Baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets
• Adrian Grenier, American actor, producer, and director​ known for his portrayal of Vincent Chase in the television series "Entourage"
• Adrian Peterson, American football player who earned numerous titles including All-American, NFL MVP, and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Adrien Brody, American actor who received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in "The Pianist," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor
• Adrien Jerome Broner, American professional boxer who has held multiple world championships in four weight classes

Fictional Adrians:

• Adrian Corbo, Marvel Comics superhero whose alias is Flex
• Adrian Ivashkov, teenage son in "Vampire Academy"
• Adrian Leverkühn, the protagonist of "Doctor Faustus"
• Adrian Monk, the protagonist in the award-winning television series "Monk"
• Adrian Toomes, Marvel Comics villain whose alias is Vulture
• Adrian Veidt, character in the "Watchmen" graphic novel series whose alias is Ozymandias