Adler

♂ Boy

Pronounced AD-ler /ˈæd.lər/High

Meaning: From the Old High German adalar or modern German Adler, meaning 'eagle'; a surname derived from the eagle as a noble, powerful bird of heraldry — used as a given name evoking strength and high-flying visionHigh

In 30 seconds: Adler is a bold German name meaning eagle, one of the most ancient symbols of power, vision, and freedom in European culture. As a given name it carries commanding strength in a clean two-syllable package.

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Origin HighOld High German

MeaningFrom the Old High German adalar or modern German Adler, meaning 'eagle'; a surname derived from the eagle as a noble, powerful bird of heraldry — used as a given name evoking strength and high-flying vision

U.S. rank (2025)#871 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births275 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,758

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

Adler comes from Old High German adalare (noble eagle) or the modern German Adler (eagle). The eagle was the supreme bird in Germanic heraldic tradition — symbol of the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and later the Kingdom of Prussia and Germany. As a surname, Adler was widespread in German-speaking Europe, particularly among Ashkenazi Jewish families who adopted it during the period of mandatory surname adoption in the 18th–19th centuries.

Adler as a given name is a 21st-century American trend, part of the fashion for German occupational and nature surnames (Fischer, Zimmermann, Adler) used as masculine given names. Psychologist Alfred Adler (1870–1937), founder of individual psychology, kept the name in the intellectual sphere. The name appeals to parents who want a name that is distinctive, strong-sounding, and culturally grounded.

Did you know? The eagle has been the primary symbol of imperial power in Western civilization since the Roman Empire — appearing on Roman legionary standards, the Holy Roman Empire's coat of arms, the U.S. national seal, and the German national emblem — making Adler one of the most symbolically loaded names in European tradition.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Adler — Old High German etymologyDuden German dictionary — Adler — eagle

Variations

AdlarEagle

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Adler Capelli (born 1973)
Adler Capelli (born 8 November 1973) is an Italian former track cyclist and one of the very few Italian athletes to have competed at three consecutive Summer Olympic Games, representing Italy in the team pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Sydney Olympics. He won back-to-back gold medals in the team pursuit at the 1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester and at the 1997 World Championships in Perth, making him a two-time world champion. At the 1992 Barcelona Games Capelli rode a bicycle fitted with a single gear-change mechanism, the first time such a device was used in an Olympic track cycling event.

If you like Adler…

Archer— same category of strong occupational or nature-linked surname names for boys

Hunter— fellow outdoor-themed occupational surname name with masculine energy

Townes— same trend of using sophisticated German/English surname names as given names

Roger— another Old High German name

Mylo— a fellow Old High German choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Adler mean?

Adler means eagle in German, from Old High German adalare — the supreme symbol of power in European heraldry.

How do you pronounce Adler?

It is said AD-ler, with two syllables.

Is Adler a popular name?

Adler is a growing surname name in the U.S., appealing to parents who want a strong, distinctive German-rooted name.

Is Adler a Jewish name?

Adler is used in both German and Ashkenazi Jewish naming traditions, as many Jewish families adopted it as a surname in the 18th–19th centuries.