Boy
Hebrew
2 syllables
Adam
AY-dum
/ˈeɪ.dəm/
"Made from the earth" — the first man's name, grounded and universal
Adam is one of the oldest names in human recorded language, appearing in the Hebrew Bible as the first man created by God from adamah — meaning red earth or clay. The name appears in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions as the progenitor of humanity. It spread throughout Europe via Christianity and has been among the most consistently used names in the English-speaking world for centuries.
Quick Facts
Letters4
SyllablesA · dam
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Root WordAdamah
MeaningMan, earth, red clay
PopularityPopular
Peak Year1983
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayDecember 24
Nicknames
AdAddy
About the Name Adam
Adam means man or earth in Hebrew, derived from adamah meaning red clay or ground. It represents humanity's connection to the earth in the creation story.
In the Abrahamic tradition, Adam is the first human name. The word adam in Hebrew also simply means human being or man, making it perhaps the oldest conceptual name in recorded history.
Adam has been in the US top 100 for decades and peaked in the 1980s. It remains a consistently used classic that works across generations.
Adam James, Adam Michael, Adam Thomas, and Adam Lee are all strong, classic combinations.
Adams are often described as grounded, reliable, and thoughtful — fitting for a name that literally means earth and represents the foundation of humanity.
Yes, Adam (Adem in Arabic) is revered in Islam as the first prophet and the first human being. The name is used throughout the Muslim world.
Personality of Adam
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Adam
Creativity
74%
Elegance
72%
Independence
80%
Intelligence
82%
Strength
84%
Warmth
80%
Famous People Named Adam
A
Adam Driver
American actor, Marriage Story and Star Wars: The Last Jedi
A
Adam Smith
Scottish economist, author of The Wealth of Nations
A
Adam (biblical)
The first human being in the Abrahamic creation narrative
Middle Names for Adam
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Adam
Adam James
Adam Michael
Adam Lee
Adam Thomas
Adam Scott
Adam David
Adam Joseph
Adam Ryan
Adam Paul
Adam Blake
Names Similar to Adam
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Adam
2000 BC
Adam appears in early Hebrew texts as the first man created from clay
700 AD
Adam spreads throughout Christian Europe via the Bible
1776
Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, cementing the name in intellectual history
1983
Adam reaches peak US popularity, ranking in the top 20
Numerology & Symbolism of Adam
1
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
2
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Capricorn
1
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Terracotta
💎
Lucky Stone
Red Jasper
🌸
Lucky Flower
Red Poppy
Adam Around the World
How Adam is written in different languages and scripts
آدم
Arabic
アダム
Japanese
Адам
Russian
아담
Korean
亚当
Chinese
Αδάμ
Greek
आदम
Hindi
אָדָם
Hebrew
Looking for Name Ideas?
Explore our name inspiration guides