Adams

♂ Boy

Pronounced AD-umz /ˈæd.əmz/High

Meaning: Son of Adam; from the Hebrew adam meaning man formed from the earthHigh

In 30 seconds: An English surname meaning 'son of Adam,' itself from the Hebrew adam meaning 'man' or 'earth.' As a first name, Adams carries distinguished presidential and literary associations.

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Origin HighHebrew, English

MeaningSon of Adam; from the Hebrew adam meaning man formed from the earth

U.S. rank (2024)#3207 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1983

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,196

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Adams is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Adam,' where Adam comes from the Hebrew adamah, meaning earth or ground. In the biblical creation narrative, Adam was formed from the dust of the earth, giving the name a foundational human meaning. The surname Adams became widespread in Britain and Ireland.

As a given name, Adams follows the long-standing tradition of transferring distinguished surnames to first-name use, particularly in American naming culture. Parents may choose Adams to honor family heritage, presidential history, or simply for its strong, grounded sound. It is less common than Adam but carries an added air of distinction through its -s suffix.

Did you know? Adams is one of America's most storied surnames, borne by two U.S. presidents — John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams — making it one of only two father-son presidential pairs in U.S. history when used as a given name it carries that weighty heritage.

Overall data confidence 85%

Oxford Dictionary of Surnames — Adams as patronymic from AdamU.S. Social Security Administration — Adams as a registered first name