adrian

n. countable

A1 Beginner US //ˈeɪdɹiən// adri·an

Archaic

Definition

n. a common name for a man or a boy. It is used in many different languages around the world.

n. a masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from the name Hadrianus. It is used across various European languages and cultures.

SIMPLE

My friend Adrian is coming to the party tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager introduced Adrian as the newest member of the engineering team during the morning meeting.

COMPLEX

While the name Adrian has roots in the Roman Empire, it remains a popular choice for parents in contemporary Europe due to its classic yet modern feel.

Origin

From Latin Hadrianus (“from the Roman harbor Hadria”) a place name ultimately from Etruscan 𐌇𐌀𐌕𐌓𐌉𐌀 (hatria). Doublet of Hadrian. See Adria.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Usage

Used as a proper noun; it follows standard capitalization rules for names.

Last updated May 2, 2026