Adrian \a-drian, ad-rian\ as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Adrian), is pronounced AY-dree-an. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Adrian is "from Hadria". Place name: Hadria was a town in northern Italy, which gave its name to the Adriatic Sea. The name was borne by the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus (second century AD). Hadrian's Wall was built across northern England during his reign. Also the name of the 12th-century pope Adrian IV (the only English pope in history). First popular in the 1950s in Britain. Hollywood costume designer Adrian; actor Adrien Brody.
Adrian has 27 variant forms: Ade, Adiran, Adrain, Adrean, Adreean, Adreyan, Adreeyan, Adriaan, Adriano, Adrien, Adrin, Adrino, Adrion, Adron, Adryan, Adya, Arjen, Aydrean, Aydreean, Aydrian, Aydrien, Edrian, Hadrian, Hadriano, Hadrien, Haydrian and Haydrien.
For more information, see also related names Aad, Dadrian, Darian and Jadrian.