Adrian

A1D2R1I1A1N1
UK/ˈeɪ.dɹiː.ən/

proper noun

A male given name from Latin or Etruscan.

OriginLatin Hadrianus ← Etruscan 𐌇𐌀𐌕𐌓𐌉𐌀 →
CommonScrabble 7
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Meanings

proper nounAdrian (countable and uncountable, plural Adrians)

plural Adrians

  1. countableuncountableA male given name from Latin or Etruscan.

    Which, of he, or Adrian, for a good wager, / Firſt begins to crow ?

    1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]
    3 more examples

    "My only worth will be in always remembering to do the thing that pleases you; and yet, although I don't really like Adie, it has a more home-like, more whisperable sound than Adrian. Adrian is a grand, heroic sort of a name, yet what a beautiful name it is.

    1874, Bertha de Jongh, The Sisters Lawless, by the author of Rosa Noel, page 245

    His baptismal register spoke of him pessimistically as John Henry, but he had left that behind with the other maladies of infancy, and his friends knew him under the front-name of Adrian.

    1912, Saki, Adrian

    I'm afraid neither of us was looking where we were going. We Adrians are notoriously abstracted, are we not?

    1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 40
  2. countablerareuncountableA female given name from Latin (compare Adriana, Adrianna, Adrienne).
  3. countableuncountableA surname.
  4. countableuncountableA village in Livada, Satu Mare County, Romania.
  5. countableuncountableA village in Gurghiu, Mureș County, Romania.
  6. A number of places in the United States:
    1. countableuncountableA city in Emanuel County and Johnson County, Georgia.
    2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Rock Creek Township, Hancock County, Illinois.
    3. countableuncountableA township in Jackson County, Kansas.
    4. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Lenawee County, Michigan.
    5. countableuncountableA charter township in Lenawee County, Michigan.
    6. countableuncountableA city in Nobles County, Minnesota.
    7. countableuncountableA township in Watonwan County, Minnesota.
    8. countableuncountableA city in Bates County, Missouri.
    9. countableuncountableA hamlet in Steuben County, New York.
    10. countableuncountableA township in LaMoure County, North Dakota.
    11. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Big Spring Township, Seneca County, Ohio.
    12. countableuncountableA city in Malheur County, Oregon.
    13. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in East Franklin Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
    14. countableuncountableA township in Edmunds County, South Dakota.
    15. countableuncountableA city in Oldham County, Texas.
    16. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Grant County, Washington.
    17. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Upshur County, West Virginia.
    18. countableuncountableA town in Monroe County, Wisconsin.
  7. countableuncountableA neighborhood of Saint John, United States Virgin Islands.
adjectiveAdrian (comparative more Adrian, superlative most Adrian)

comparative more Adrian · superlative most Adrian

  1. Relating to the Adriatic Sea.

    Adrian billows

Origin

  1. Etruscan𐌇𐌀𐌕𐌓𐌉𐌀
  2. LatinHadrianus“from the Roman harbor Hadria”
  3. EnglishAdrian

From Latin Hadrianus (“from the Roman harbor Hadria”) a place name ultimately from Etruscan 𐌇𐌀𐌕𐌓𐌉𐌀 (hatria). Doublet of Hadrian. See Adria.

More words from Latin, Etruscan

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian Адриа́н, Андриа́н
  • Адриа́н (Adrián)male given name
  • Андриа́н (Andrián)male given name
Catalan Adrià
  • Adriàmale given name
Chinese Cantonese 艾哲倫 /艾哲伦
  • 艾哲倫 /艾哲伦 (ngaai⁶ jit³ leun⁴)male given name
Chinese Mandarin 阿德里安, 安德林
  • 阿德里安 (Ādélǐ'ān)male given name
  • 安德林 (Āndélín)male given name
Danish Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Dutch Adriaan
  • Adriaanmale given name
Finnish Ari
  • Arimale given name
French Adrien
  • Adrienmale given name
German Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Greek Αδριανός
  • Αδριανός (Adrianós)male given name
Hebrew אדריאן
  • אדריאןmale given name
Hungarian Adorján
  • Adorjánmale given name
Italian Adriano
  • Adrianomale given name
Latin Adrianus, Hadrianus
  • Adrianusmale given name
  • Hadrianusmale given name
Latvian Adrians
  • Adriansmale given name
Lithuanian Adrianas, Adriana
  • Adrianasmale given name
  • Adrianamale given name
Māori Atiriana
  • Atirianamale given name
Norwegian Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Persian آدریان
  • آدریان (âdriân)male given name
Polish Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Portuguese Adriano, Adrião
  • Adrianomale given name
  • Adriãomale given name
Romanian Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Russian Адриа́н, Андриа́н
  • Адриа́н (Adrián)male given name
  • Андриа́н (Andrián)male given name
Spanish Adriano, Adrián
  • Adrianomale given name
  • Adriánmale given name
Swedish Adrian
  • Adrianmale given name
Ukrainian Адріа́н, Андріа́н
  • Адріа́н (Adrián)male given name
  • Андріа́н (Andrián)male given name
Vietnamese Ađrianô, Hađrianô
  • Ađrianômale given name
  • Hađrianômale given name

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

radianDarianAndriaDinaraAdrinaardian
Cite this entry
APA

Adrian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Adrian

MLA

“Adrian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Adrian. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Adrian,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Adrian.

Source: Adrian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.