Adam
Meaningman, earth · Hebrew
- US rank
- #101
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #18 in 1984
3,501 babies were named Adam in the US in 2025. It has dropped 4 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Adam you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Adam
Adam Smith
Scottish moral philosopher and political economist (1723–1790)
Choose Adam and your child shares a first name with Adam Smith, a Scottish moral philosopher and political economist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Adam, like who?” Adam Smith's Wikipedia article is available in 223 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Adam Smith on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Etching created by Cadell and Davies (1811), John Horsburgh (1828) or R.C. Bell (1872)., Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 488 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Adam, 3,501 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Adam.
- HistoryAdam has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Adams, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1984, when it ranked #18. Today it's #101, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowAdam was 2.0× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 241 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 488.
- Where it's lovedAdam is most popular in New York, where it ranks #42, followed by Michigan (#43) and Illinois (#45). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Adam means “man, earth”.
About the name Adam
Adam is a boy name of English origin meaning “man, earth”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with A and ending in “-dam”. US birth records list Adam for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked #18 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #101, with 3,501 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 933 | 1,072 boys |
| 1890s | 757 | 1,322 boys |
| 1900s | 752 | 1,331 boys |
| 1910s | 699 | 1,430 boys |
| 1920s | 405 | 2,471 boys |
| 1930s | 228 | 4,378 boys |
| 1940s | 166 | 6,037 boys |
| 1950s | 183 | 5,453 boys |
| 1960s | 1,213 | 824 boys |
| 1970s | 5,587 | 179 boys |
| 1980s | 10,611 | 94 boys |
| 1990s | 5,468 | 183 boys |
| 2000s | 3,565 | 281 boys |
| 2010s | 2,694 | 371 boys |
| 2020s | 2,081 | 480 boys |
Other spellings of Adam
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Adam
What does the name Adam mean?
Adam means “man, earth” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Adam?
Adam has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Adam a boy or girl name?
Adam is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Adam?
Adam ranked #101 for US boys in 2025, given to 3,501 babies. Its best year was 1984 (#18).