Boy name · Hebrew
Adam
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: man, humankindAdam is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "man, humankind". It is used in English, Irish, Scottish, French, German and Dutch and more.
- Meaning
- Man, humankind
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #101 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Adam
As a boy's name, Adam comes from Hebrew and means "man, humankind". It is used in English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Polish, Hebrew and Arabic.
In French, say ah-DAHN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Adam is also a surname: the 2,298th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 15,473 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Adam on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Adam on 5 lists.
“Man, of the earth; the first prophet in Islam.”
From Arabic names, names of prophets in the Quran
“Man, humankind; Hebrew. First man, Genesis”
From Biblical names, names from Genesis
“Man, humankind; Hebrew. The first man in Genesis”
From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names
“Man, humankind; Hebrew. No. 9 in France in 2025. Say ah-DAHN”
From French boy names, popular French boys' names right now
“Man, perhaps earth; Hebrew. Among the 10 commonest men's names in a Yorkshire record of 1379”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval male names from England and France
How popular is Adam?
- US rank in 2025
- #101
- 3,501 babies, 2,050 per million boys
- Best rank
- #18 in 1983
- Most babies: 23,939 in 1984
- Babies since 1880
- At least 580,378
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 931 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 756 per million |
| 1900s | 752 per million |
| 1910s | 671 per million |
| 1920s | 404 per million |
| 1930s | 228 per million |
| 1940s | 164 per million |
| 1950s | 185 per million |
| 1960s | 1,190 per million |
| 1970s | 5,555 per million |
| 1980s | 10,569 per million |
| 1990s | 5,488 per million |
| 2000s | 3,558 per million |
| 2010s | 2,697 per million |
| 2020s | 2,082 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #75 | #77 | #78 | #91 | #97 | #104 | #99 | #103 | #100 | #101 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Adam
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- AkamuMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Adam
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AdánMan, of the earth (Hebrew, boy)
- AdhamBlack, dark (Arabic, boy)
- AgamLake (Hebrew, unisex)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AbramHigh father (Hebrew, boy)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AdiJewel, ornament (Hebrew, unisex)
Middle names for Adam
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Adam: common questions
What does the name Adam mean?
Adam comes from Hebrew and means "man, humankind".
Is Adam a boy or girl name?
Adam is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 10 girls and 3,501 boys in the US were named Adam, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Adam come from?
Adam comes from Hebrew and means "man, humankind". Today it is used in English, Irish, Scottish, French, German and Dutch.
How popular is the name Adam?
Adam ranked #101 in the US in 2025, with 3,501 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Adam?
Forms of Adam with the same meaning and origin include Akamu (Hawaiian).
What middle names go with Adam?
Middle names that flow well with Adam include Carter, Chase, Elliott, Gerald and Lamar. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.