Adrian

Adrian meaning

Adrian is an international and Christian boy's name of Latin origin.

Of Hadria, a town in Italy; also the emperor Hadrian

Also used to mean: from Hadria, of the sea

Adrian comes from Latin Hadrianus, "of Hadria". Lewis & Short describe Hadria as the name of two Italian towns, one in Picenum that was the family seat of the emperor Hadrian, and Hadria also became the Latin name for the Adriatic Sea, which explains why name lists sometimes give "of the sea". The Online Etymology Dictionary notes that several popes have borne the name, and Hadrian, who built the great wall across northern Britain, is its most famous Roman bearer. The name is used by Christian families in India and across Europe, and it is easy to say in Indian languages.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. Hadria · entry Hădrĭa; Hadrianus · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, Hadria (Logeion) · Online Etymology Dictionary, Adrian · Britannica, Hadrian

Famous namesakes

• Hadrian, Roman emperor (117-138 CE)

Popularity abroad

• #74 United States, boys 2025 (down 2 from 72 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #279 England and Wales, boys 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Adrian · Adrien · Adriaan · Hadrian

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