adam

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Origin, Meaning, and History of Adam

Adam is a popular Hebrew name that translates to “son of the Earth.” It is derived from the Hebrew word “adamah,” which means “earth.” The name Adam first appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. Adam is a revered name in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths since he is believed to be the first man God created on earth.

According to the Old Testament book of Genesis, Adam and Eve were the first humans living blissfully in the Garden of Eden until they reached the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate the forbidden fruit. They were driven from Eden and sent to the eastern territories, where they gave birth to the second generation, which included Cain, Abel, and Seth.

The name Adam is widely used in various cultures and faiths across the world. It became popular in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages and has remained so ever since. The phonetic spelling of the name Adam is Ad-uhm.

There are many variations of the name in different languages. Some include Adams, Adan, Adamo, Adao, Addam, and Adem in Hebrew, Adham in Arabic, Adan in Spanish, Aadam in Islamic, Adem in Turkish, Adamek in Polish Czech, and Adami in Italian.

The two-syllable name also finds mention in popular culture. Some of the fictional characters with the name are Adam Newman from “The Young and the Restless” TV series, Adam Braverman, from the tv series “Parenthood,” Adam Raki, a character in the film “Adam,” and Adam of Eternia from the anime “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.”

Several notable authors have also used this unique name for different characters in their works. These include Adam Parrish, a character from Maggie Stiefvater’s “The Raven Cycle” novel series, Adam Ewing from David Mitchell’s book “Cloud Atlas,” Adam Stanton, a character from Robert Penn Warren’s book “All the King’s Men,” and Adam Verver, a character in Henry James’ “The Golden Bowl.”

Adam

heart image
Son of the Earth
Boy
Hebrew
1
Two
1 word, 4 letters, 2 vowels, 2 consonants
Short and easy to pronounce

How To Pronounce Adam?

Pronounced as ah-dam

The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.

Listen to the sound of the name Adam in English.

Famous People With The Name Adam

  • Adam BrodyAmerican actor best known for his role in the TV series The OC
  • Adam DriverAmerican actor best known for playing Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” films
  • Adam SandlerAmerican actor known for films, including Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore
  • Adam LevineLead singer of the pop-rock group “Maroon 5”
  • Adam LambertAmerican singer who debuted on “American Idol” in 2009

Adam On The Popularity Chart

Adam is a well-liked name in many parts of the world’s although its popularity has taken a hit recently. Check out the graphs below to understand how the name fared on the popularity charts.

Popularity Over Time

Adam was among the top 100 baby boy names in the US from the 1980s until the 1990s. The name reached its peak popularity in 1981, with 20,042 babies per million being named Adam.

Source: Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

The name Adam was ranked 12,185 in 1980, which dropped to 18,928 in 2016. Examine the graph below to know the name’s ranking trends.

Source: Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Adam

Adam is a name that is common and popular. Take a look at these names that sound similar to Adam.

Popular Sibling Names For Adam

If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Adam, check our suggestions here.

Boy Sibling Names For Adam

Find matching brother names for Adam and create a wonderful team of siblings.

Adama heart imageAdames heart imageAdamo heart imageAdams heart imageAdamson heart imageAdamsson heart imageAdamus heart imageAdim heart imageAdmaa heart imageAdom heart image

Girl Sibling Names For Adam

Looking for some suitable sister names for Adam? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.

Aatmaja heart imageAdamaris heart imageAdamina heart imageAdamma heart imageAdaoma heart imageAdhiambo heart imageAdimu heart imageAdmira heart imageAdmiranda heart imageAitamah heart image

Other Popular Names Beginning With A

Looking for more baby names starting with the letter A to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.

Names With Similar Meaning As Adam

Adam is a name with a unique meaning. Explore more names with meanings similar to Adam’s here.

Infographic: Know The Name Adam‘s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-adam-boy

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

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Download Infographic in PDF version

How To Communicate The Name Adam In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

adam

In Sign Language

adam

In Braille Alphabet

adam

In Morse Code

adam

Name Numerology For Adam

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Adam?

The name Adam means son of the earth.

2. What is the origin of the name Adam?

Adam has a Hebrew origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Adam?

Adam is pronounced as ah-dam.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Adam?

The name Adam means ‘son of the earth.’

2. What is the origin of the name Adam?

Adam has a Hebrew origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Adam?

Adam is pronounced as ah-dam.

4. In which country is the name Adam most popular?

Adam is a trendy and widely adopted name. However, it may be more common in countries such as Australia, England, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the United States.

5. How many people in the United States are named Adam?

In 2022, according to the Social Security Administration data, the name Adam held the 97th position, with 3,625 baby boys sharing the name. Its highest number was in 1984, when 23,941 babies were named Adam (1).

6. Is Adam a medieval name?

While the name has Biblical origins, it gained popularity during the Middle Ages and has been widely used since then. Adam was a common name among Christians in medieval Europe after the Protestant Reformation and was often given to boys in reference to the Biblical figure of Adam.

7. Are there any notable historical figures with the name Adam?

Yes, there are many notable historical figures with the name Adam. One of the most prominent ones may include Scottish economist, philosopher, and author of the book ‘The Wealth of Nations.’ He was sometimes referred to as ‘The Father of Economics.’

8. Is Adam a gender-neutral name?

No, Adam is generally considered a masculine name predominantly used for boys. It has a long history of being associated with male characters beginning with the first human man, Adam, in the Bible, according to Christian beliefs.

9. Is Adam a traditional or modern name?

Adam is a traditional name with roots dating back to ancient times. It has biblical origins denoting the first man God created on earth. The name is derived from the Hebrew word ‘adamah’, meaning earth.

10. What are the most common nicknames for the name Adam?

Common nicknames for the Hebrew name Adam include Ace, Ad, Addy, Adzy, and Dee. These shortened forms provide a more affectionate and familiar form of address.

References:

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  1. Popularity of name Adam;
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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