Given name & surname
Adams
“man”·“of the earth”
Adams is a variant of Adam. Interpretations include “man” (Hebrew) and “of the earth” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Adams is a variant of Adam. Interpretations include “man” (Hebrew) and “of the earth” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Adams is a variant of Adam. A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From Latin Ādām, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ, from Hebrew אָדָם, from Proto-Semitic *ʔadam-.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1898. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Adams is a variant of Adam. The history of Adam gives this family its wider story. Adam has a place in biblical naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Adams through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,230
- 1,230 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1983
- 42 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #3,450 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +76%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,450 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 76.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 42 in 1983. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,051 as a first name in 2020; 413,470 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Adams’s family of names
Adams has a related form in Adam. In English usage, Adams as a surname has a related form in Addams. In English usage, Adams as a surname has a conventional equivalent in the Lithuanian form ADOMAITIS.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Adams has relatives in 4 languages.
4 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Adams
- Adams George ArchibaldCanadian politician (1814–1892)
- Adams Abdul SalamGhanaian politicianborn 1985
- Friday AdamsNigerian footballerborn 2002
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Adams, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Adamo
“man” · “of the earth”
>99% boys
Eran
“one who has been awakened”
>99% boys
Apostolos
“an apostle; a messenger of God”
>99% boys
Daneal
“God is my judge” · “the champion”
81% boys · 19% girls
Efrain
“one who is tertile; productive” · “fruitful”
>99% boys
Grabiel
“man of God” · “a hero of God”
>99% boys
Gabino
“man of God” · “a hero of God”
>99% boys
Rosh
“head” · “chief”
>99% boys