Adonis
Adonis Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/á.dɔː.nis/
Meaning of Adonis: The name Adonis derives from the Semitic root adon, meaning “lord,” which entered Greek through Phoenician mythology. The term also appears in Hebrew as Adonai, a reverent title for the deity, underlining its early religious weight.
In Greek tradition, Adonis was an exceptionally beautiful youth beloved by the goddess Aphrodite. His annual death and rebirth, mourned in Near Eastern ritual, symbolized the seasonal cycle of vegetation and the fertility of the land.
The myth of Adonis was celebrated across the ancient Mediterranean in the Adonia festival, observed by women in Athens and Alexandria. The rites marked both lament and renewal, cementing the figure inside Greek religious imagination.
What Does Adonis Mean? Origin & Etymology
Furthermore, his name entered the Greek vocabulary as a common noun for an extraordinarily handsome man. Renaissance poets and painters, from Shakespeare to Titian, frequently depicted him, keeping the name in European cultural circulation through the modern era.
As a given name in the United States, Adonis appears primarily in Latino communities and gained broader traction in the 2010s. Hip-hop and sports culture, including Drake’s 2017 son Adonis, reinforced its modern visibility among younger American parents.
According to SSA records, Adonis ranked 206 among US boys in 2024. The name is sustained by its mythological associations, its striking three-syllable rhythm, and a broader fashion for classical masculine names.
How Popular Is Adonis?
Numerology & Symbolism of Adonis
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Adonis – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Adonis
What does the name Adonis mean?
Adonis means lord, from the Semitic root adon. In Greek mythology it became synonymous with male beauty through the story of the youth beloved by Aphrodite, and later entered common use as a word for a handsome man.
What is the origin of the name Adonis?
Adonis originates from Phoenician mythology, where adon meant lord. The name entered Greek culture through the myth of the beautiful youth whose death and rebirth symbolized seasonal renewal.
How popular is the name Adonis in the US?
Adonis ranked #206 among boys in the United States in 2024, according to SSA data. It has grown steadily, particularly in Latino communities.
Is Adonis a Greek name?
Adonis entered Greek culture through Phoenician mythology. While the myth is most fully told in Greek and Latin sources, the root adon is Semitic, making the name Phoenician-Greek in origin.