Adam

In the Hebrew Bible, Adam is the first human, formed by God from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2:7, husband of Eve and progenitor of all humanity.

The narrative of the Garden of Eden has shaped Jewish, Christian and Islamic theology for three millennia.

In Islam he is venerated as the first prophet, Adam alayhis salam. The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches commemorate him as a saint of the Old Testament.

The name was borne by several early medieval saints, including Saint Adam of Fermo and the Cistercian theologian Adam of Perseigne.

Literary fame is woven through Western culture. John Milton”s Paradise Lost (1667) made Adam the speaking centre of an English epic. Adam Bede (1859), the title character of George Eliot”s first novel, gave the name nineteenth century literary depth.

John Steinbeck”s East of Eden (1952) features Adam Trask in a deliberate reworking of the Genesis narrative. The Scottish economist Adam Smith (1723-1790), author of The Wealth of Nations, gave the name its association with modern economic thought.

According to US Social Security Administration records, Adam ranked in the top 500 from the start of records in 1880, then surged after 1965, reaching its peak rank of 18 in 1983 and 1984.

It held the top 100 for over thirty years and stood at position 74 in 2023. The name is universally adopted across regions and religions, functioning as a near-secular choice with deep cross-cultural roots.

Contemporary bearers include actor Adam Driver, late-night host Adam Sandler, musician Adam Levine of Maroon 5, and US senator Adam Schiff.