Adam
Say it: AD-am/ˈædəm/
BoyMeans man, or earth4 letters2 syllables
#20
in Ireland (2025)
#22 with spellings combined
191
babies in 2025
#3
best rank (2001)
18,492
babies since 1965
Down 16
10-year rank change
Adam through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 191 | #22 |
| 2024 | 188 | #25 |
| 2023 | 201 | #24 |
| 2022 | 230 | #22 |
| 2021 | 237 | #22 |
| 2020 | 299 | #15 |
| 2019 | 345 | #7 |
| 2018 | 349 | #10 |
| 2017 | 389 | #9 |
| 2016 | 400 | #7 |
| 2015 | 449 | #6 |
| 2014 | 493 | #6 |
| 2013 | 518 | #6 |
| 2012 | 558 | #6 |
| 2011 | 637 | #7 |
| 2010 | 581 | #7 |
| 2009 | 618 | #7 |
| 2008 | 645 | #7 |
| 2007 | 659 | #6 |
| 2006 | 693 | #4 |
| 2005 | 710 | #3 |
| 2004 | 688 | #4 |
| 2003 | 787 | #3 |
| 2002 | 798 | #3 |
| 2001 | 833 | #3 |
| 2000 | 653 | #4 |
| 1999 | 588 | #5 |
| 1998 | 460 | #5 |
| 1997 | 532 | #12 |
| 1996 | 515 | #11 |
| 1995 | 433 | #14 |
| 1994 | 379 | #15 |
| 1993 | 332 | #21 |
| 1992 | 324 | #22 |
| 1991 | 257 | #31 |
| 1990 | 193 | #44 |
| 1989 | 130 | #56 |
| 1988 | 131 | #55 |
| 1987 | 106 | #68 |
| 1986 | 130 | #57 |
| 1985 | 112 | #66 |
| 1984 | 92 | #74 |
| 1983 | 117 | #67 |
| 1982 | 98 | #80 |
| 1981 | 74 | #88 |
| 1980 | 61 | #101 |
| 1979 | 54 | #106 |
| 1978 | 36 | #121 |
| 1977 | 26 | #138 |
| 1976 | 19 | #164 |
| 1975 | 21 | #150 |
| 1974 | 22 | #148 |
| 1973 | 23 | #143 |
| 1972 | 17 | #158 |
| 1971 | 16 | #164 |
| 1970 | 8 | #206 |
| 1969 | 9 | #196 |
| 1968 | 9 | #177 |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
| 1966 | 4 | #229 |
| 1965 | 11 | #157 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Adam mean?
Man, or earth
Hebrew, from adam (man), linked with adamah (ground, red earth).
Say it right
ADam
The story of Adam
Adam is the name of the first man in the Book of Genesis. The Hebrew word adam means “man” or “human”, and it is linked with adamah, “ground” or “red earth”, the soil from which Adam is formed in the story. The name came into English through Latin and Greek, and has been used in England since medieval times.
Irish bearers include Adam Clayton, the bass player with U2.
Adam was uncommon in Ireland in the 1960s but rose steadily from the 1970s on. It was in the top 10 every year from 1998 to 2019. It reached number 3 in 2001, its best year, when 833 boys were given the name. Northern Ireland followed the same pattern, with its best rank of 3rd also in 2001. In 2025 Adam was number 20 in the CSO’s table.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Adam (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Adam (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | 191 | 18,492 |
In Northern Ireland
#79 in 2025 with 30 babies. Best rank #3 (2001); 4,777 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.