Adrian
Boy name · #74 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Adrian? In official American birth records, Adrian has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Adrian is currently the #74 boy name in the United States — 4,464 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #58, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 403 boys born in 2025 was named Adrian.
The 145-year story
Adrian first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 7,938 boys were named Adrian — good for #56 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Adrian per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Adrian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Adrian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Adrian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Adrian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Adrian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Adrian is most common in NV (6.2 per 1,000), NM (5.7 per 1,000), DE (5.4 per 1,000), CA (5 per 1,000), RI (4.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Adrian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Adrian
Statistically, parents drawn to Adrian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Damian, Ian, Christian, Nathan, and Logan.
DamianIanChristianNathanLoganJulianAngelNolan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Adrian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,464 | #74 |
| 2024 | 4,642 | #72 |
| 2023 | 4,666 | #67 |
| 2022 | 5,044 | #63 |
| 2021 | 5,144 | #61 |
| 2020 | 5,321 | #58 |
| 2019 | 5,786 | #56 |
| 2018 | 5,817 | #62 |
| 2017 | 6,236 | #58 |
| 2016 | 6,337 | #60 |
| 2015 | 6,540 | #58 |
| 2014 | 6,706 | #59 |
| 2013 | 6,854 | #60 |
| 2012 | 6,952 | #61 |
| 2011 | 7,349 | #56 |
| 2010 | 7,409 | #56 |
| 2009 | 7,633 | #59 |
| 2008 | 7,938 | #56 |
| 2007 | 7,742 | #61 |
| 2006 | 7,383 | #63 |
| 2005 | 6,727 | #65 |
| 2004 | 6,140 | #72 |
| 2003 | 6,110 | #68 |
| 2002 | 5,684 | #73 |
| 2001 | 5,424 | #75 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Adrian?
In official American birth records, the name Adrian first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 18 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Adrian a popular boy name?
Adrian ranked #74 among boys in 2025 with 4,464 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #58.
When was the name Adrian most popular?
Adrian peaked in 2008, when 7,938 American boys received the name (ranked #56 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Adrian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 403 newborn American boys was named Adrian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.