Adrian is a form of the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

Adrianus Adrianus of Tyre (Ancient Greek: , c. 113 – 193 AD), also written as Hadrian and Hadrianos, was a sophist of ancient Athens who flourished under the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Adrianus was the pupil of Herodes Atticus, and obt ...

or Hadrianus. Its ultimate origin is most likely via the former river

Adria Adria is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of northern Italy, situated between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po River, Po. The remains of the Etruria, Etruscan city of Atria or Hatria are to be found below ...

from the

Venetic Venetic is an extinct Indo-European language, usually classified into the Italic subgroup, that was spoken by the Veneti people in ancient times in northeast Italy (Veneto and Friuli) and part of modern Slovenia, between the Po Delta and ...

and Illyrian word ''adur'', meaning "sea" or "water". The Adria was until the 8th century BC the main channel of the

Po River The Po ( , ; la, Padus or ; Ligurian language (ancient), Ancient Ligurian: or ) is the longest river in Italy. It flows eastward across northern Italy starting from the Cottian Alps. The river's length is either or , if the Maira (river), Mair ...

into the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...

but ceased to exist before the 1st century BC.

Hecataeus of Miletus Hecataeus of Miletus (; el, Ἑκαταῖος ὁ Μιλήσιος; c. 550 BC – c. 476 BC), son of Hegesander, was an early Greek historian and geographer. Biography Hailing from a very wealthy family, he lived in Miletus, then under Per ...

(c.550 – c.476 BC) asserted that both the

Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *The Etruscan language, an extinct language in ancient Italy *Something derived from or related to the Etruscan civilization **Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan ...

harbor city of

and the Adriatic Sea had been named after it. Emperor

Hadrian Hadrian (; la, Caesar Trâiānus Hadriānus ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born in Italica (close to modern Santiponce in Spain), a Roman ''municipium'' founded by Italic settlers in Hispania B ...

's family was named after the city or region of Adria/Hadria, now

Atri Atri ( sa, अत्रि) or Attri is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous hymns to Agni, Indra, and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri is one of the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu tradition, and the on ...

, in

Picenum Picenum was a region of ancient Italy. The name is an exonym assigned by the Romans, who conquered and incorporated it into the Roman Republic. Picenum was ''Regio V'' in the Augustan territorial organization of Roman Italy. Picenum was also ...

, which most likely started as an Etruscan or Greek colony of the older harbor city of the same name. Several

saints In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual res ...

and six popes have borne this name, including the only English pope,

Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV ( la, Adrianus IV; born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear); 1 September 1159, also Hadrian IV), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 to his death in 1159. He is the only Englishman t ...

, and the only Dutch pope,

Adrian VI Pope Adrian VI ( la, Hadrianus VI; it, Adriano VI; nl, Adrianus/Adriaan VI), born Adriaan Florensz Boeyens (2 March 1459 – 14 September 1523), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 January 1522 until his d ...

. As an English name, it has been in use since the Middle Ages, although it did not become common until modern times.

Religion

Pope Adrian I Pope Adrian I ( la, Hadrianus I; died 25 December 795) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 1 February 772 to his death. He was the son of Theodore, a Roman nobleman. Adrian and his predecessors had to contend with periodic ...

(c. 700–795) *

Pope Adrian II Pope Adrian II ( la, Adrianus II; also Hadrian II; 79214 December 872) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 867 to his death. He continued the policy of his predecessor, Nicholas I. Despite seeking good relations with Loui ...

(792–872) *

Pope Adrian III Pope Adrian III or Hadrian III ( la, Adrianus or ''Hadrianus''; died July 885) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 17 May 884 to his death. He served for little more than a year, during which he worked to help the people of I ...

(died 885) *

Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV ( la, Adrianus IV; born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear); 1 September 1159, also Hadrian IV), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 to his death in 1159. He is the only Englishman t ...

(c. 1100–1159), English pope *

Pope Adrian V Pope Adrian V (Latin: ''Adrianus V''; c. 1210/1220 – 18 August 1276), born Ottobuono de' Fieschi, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 July 1276 to his death on 18 August 1276. He was an envoy of Pope Cle ...

(c. 1205–1276) *

Adrian of Batanea Saint Adrian (died 308) travelled from Batanea to Caesarea Palaestina, where he was martyred together with Saint Eubulus. He is commemorated on 5 March; Eubulus on 7 March. Legend Eubulus had traveled with Adrian of Batanea to visit and mini ...

(died 308), Christian martyr and saint *

Adrian of Canterbury Adrian, also spelled Hadrian (born before 637, died 710), was a North African scholar in Anglo-Saxon England and the abbot of Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's in Canterbury. He was a noted teacher and commentator of the Bible. Adrian was born betw ...

(died 710), scholar and Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury *

Adrian of Castello Adriano Castellesi (-), also known as Adriano de Castello or Hadrian de Castello, was an Italian cardinal, an English agent in Rome, and a writer. He was born in Corneto, which is today's Tarquinia. He was the child of a modest family. Biograph ...

(1460–1521), Italian cardinal and writer *

Adrian of May Saint Adrian of May (sometimes given as "Magridin") (d. 875) was a martyr-saint of ancient Scotland, whose cult (religious practice), cult became popular in the 14th century. He is commemorated on 3 December. He may have been a bishop of Archbishop ...

(died 875), Scottish saint from the Isle of May, martyred by Vikings *

Adrian of Moscow Patriarch Adrian (; born Andrey, Андрей; 2 October 1638 – 16 October 1700) was the last pre-revolutionary Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. According to historian Alexander Avdeyev, the future Patriarch Adrian was born in the last da ...

(1627–1700), last pre-revolutionary Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia *

Adrian of Nicomedia Adrian of Nicomedia (also known as Hadrian) or Saint Adrian ( el, Ἁδριανὸς Νικομηδείας, Adrianos Nikomēdeias, died 4 March 306) was a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian. After becoming a convert to Chr ...

(died 306), martyr and Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian *

Adrian of Ondrusov Venerable Adrian of Ondrusov (died August 26, 1549) was a Russian Orthodox monk and saint, venerated as a Wonderworker. Born Andrew Zavalushin into a noble family, he was the owner of a rich estate (Andreevschina), which was located not far from ...

(died 1549), Russian Orthodox saint and wonder-worker *

Adrian of Poshekhonye Venerable Adrian of Poshekhonye (russian: Адриан Пошехонский; died 1550) was a Russian Orthodox monk and iconographer, who was the founder and first hegumen (abbot) of the Dormition monastery in Poshekhonye, north Yaroslavl region ...

(died 1550), Russian Orthodox saint, hegumen of Dormition monastery in Yaroslavl region * Adrian of Transylvania (fl. 1183–1201), Hungarian bishop and chancellor *

Adrian Fortescue (martyr) Sir Adrian Fortescue (c. 1476 – 9 July 1539) was a courtier at the court of King Henry VIII of England and member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic who was executed in 1539 and later beatified as a Roman Catholic martyr. Life Adrian Fortes ...

(1476–1539), English courtier at Henry VIII's court, beatified as a Roman Catholic martyr *

Adrian Gouffier de Boissy Adrian Gouffier de Boissy (died 1523) was a French people, French Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Bishop (Catholic Church), bishop and Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal. Biography A member of the Gouffier family, Adrian Gouffier de Boissy was born ...

(1479–1523), French Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal *

Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu (15 July 1923 – 30 December 2009) was a Ugandan Catholic priest who served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Masaka, in Uganda, from 11 November 1961 until 10 January 1998. Background and priesthood He was born on ...

(1923–2009), Ugandan Roman Catholic bishop *

Adrian Leo Doyle Adrian Leo Doyle AM (born 16 November 1936) is an Australian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the tenth Archbishop of Hobart. Early life and education Adrian Doyle was born in Hobart, Tasmania, to Leo and Gertrude (née O'Donnel ...

(born 1936), Australian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church

Government and politics

Adrian Amstutz Adrian Amstutz (born 2 December 1953) is a Swiss politician. He was a member of the Swiss National Council from the Canton of Berne from 2003 to 2019. Life Amstutz was born and lives in the rural village of Sigriswil. As a young man, he served ...

(born 1953), Swiss politician *

Adrian Arnold Adrian King Arnold (April 27, 1932 - December 15, 2018) was an American politician in the state of Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of th ...

(1932–2018), American politician *

Adrian Bailey Adrian Edward Bailey (born 11 December 1945) is a retired British Labour and Co-operative politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich West from 2000, when he won the seat at a by-election in November 2000 until he stoo ...

(born 1945), British politician *

Adrian Baillie Sir Adrian William Maxwell Baillie, 6th Baronet DL (5 May 1898 – 8 January 1947) was a British MP for two constituencies. Early life Baillie was born on 5 May 1898. He was the second son of Sir Robert Alexander Baillie, 4th Baronet (1859� ...

(1898–1947), British politician *

Adrian A. Basora Adrian Anthony Basora (born July 18, 1938) is an American diplomat, and former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He is a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute researching democratization in the post-Communist states ...

(born 1938), American diplomat *

Adrian Benepe Adrian Benepe was the 14th Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, serving in that role from February 4, 2002, to August 29, 2012, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. During his tenure, he oversaw 7,000 parks' staff, the ex ...

, American Commissioner *

Adrian Bennett Adrian Frank Bennett (21 January 1933 – 9 May 2006) was an Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at Catholic schools before becoming a transport worker. He was secretary of the Transport Workers' Union and a ...

(1933–2006), Australian politician *

Adrian Benjamin Bentzon Adrian Benjamin Bentzon (22 April 1777 – 15 January 1827) was Governor of the Danish West Indies from 1816 to 1820. Biography He was born in Tønsberg, Norway. He was the son of Hans Jacob Bentzon (1739–1810) and Sophia Hedvig Købke ( ...

(1777–1827), Norwegian politician *