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The short answer
Adam is a masculine name that Behind the Name identifies as "the Hebrew word for 'man'", possibly derived from Hebrew ʾaḏam, "to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian adamu, "to make". In Genesis Adam is created from the earth by God and, with Eve, is one of the first humans, expelled from Eden after eating the forbidden fruit. Behind the Name says the name has been common in English since the Middle Ages and received a boost after the Protestant Reformation. Pronounced AD-əm, it ranked #101 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name states plainly that Adam "is the Hebrew word for 'man'", then offers two possible deeper roots: Hebrew אדם (ʾaḏam) "to be red", "referring to the ruddy colour of human skin", or Akkadian adamu "to make". The entry notes a word play in Genesis on Hebrew אֲדָמָה (ʾaḏama), "earth", since Adam was created from the earth. It summarizes the Genesis story: Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden until they ate the forbidden fruit and were expelled to the lands to the east, where their children included Cain, Abel and Seth. Behind the Name lists usage across English, French, German, Polish, Dutch, Scandinavian, Slavic, Romanian, Catalan, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Georgian, Malay, Indonesian and Dhivehi, as well as Biblical and Quranic.
Editorial confidence: likely
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | אָדָם (ʾAdam) | man |
| Hebrew (possible) | אדם (ʾaḏam) | to be red |
| Akkadian (possible) | adamu | to make |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Hebrew ʾaḏam "to be red", alluding to the ruddy colour of human skin.
- Akkadian adamu "to make".
- Behind the Name also notes the Genesis word play with Hebrew ʾaḏama, "earth", without presenting it as the etymology.
Popularity
Adam ranked #101 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration); Behind the Name's cached entry records the same figure. The entry says Adam has been common as an English Christian name since the Middle Ages, with a boost after the Protestant Reformation.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #101 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Addy
Variants: Ádám, Adem, Adəm, Adán, Adão, Adamo, Adamu, Aatami, Akamu, Ádhamh, Ādams, Adomas
Related names: Adamina, Adams, Adamson, Addison, Edison, Eason
What the name feels like
Adam is about as elemental as a name gets: two syllables, one of the first names in the Bible and a word that literally means "man". That gives it a plain, sturdy, unshowy character. It is one of the few names equally at home in Christian, Jewish and Muslim families, and because the spelling barely changes from Warsaw to Kuala Lumpur it is an easy choice for families that move between languages.
Style tags: biblical, classic, two syllables, cross-cultural, Hebrew roots
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The one nickname listed, Addy, is the Medieval English form that Behind the Name records under other languages, not a documented modern diminutive.
If you like this name
Names that share Adam's Old Testament origin, its short classic shape, or its surname descendants.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Similar by style
- Addison
- Adamson
- Edison
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Adam mean?
Adam is the Hebrew word for "man". Behind the Name says it may ultimately come from Hebrew ʾaḏam, "to be red" (for the colour of skin), or from Akkadian adamu, "to make".
Is Adam a popular name?
Adam ranked #101 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Who was Adam in the Bible?
According to Genesis, Adam was created from the earth by God. He and Eve were the first humans, living in the Garden of Eden until they ate the forbidden fruit and were expelled; their children included Cain, Abel and Seth.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Adam — supports etymology, competing origins, biblical history, English usage history, pronunciation, variants, related names.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
