Adrian
AY-dree-un /ˈeɪ.dri.ən/
Meaning of Adrian
Adrian is the English form of the Latin Hadrianus — 'from Hadria,' a Roman city in northern Italy (modern Atri). The Emperor Hadrian (76–138 AD) built Hadrian's Wall in northern Britain and gave his name to the sea (Hadriatic → Adriatic). The name has been used in England since the Norman Conquest and was borne by the only English pope (Adrian IV, Nicholas Breakspear, r. 1154–1159).
Current popularity of Adrian
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #63 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #16 |
Notable bearers of Adrian
Emperor Hadrian (76–138 AD); Pope Adrian IV (only English pope, d. 1159); Adrian Mole (fictional diarist).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Adrian — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31