Adonis

BoyGreek· “lord”

Meaning
lord
Origin
Greek
Pronunciation
uh-DAH-nis
Syllables
3
US rank 2025
#241
US babies 2025
1,462
Best rank
#175 (2023)
Peak year
2023

Meaning and origin of Adonis

Adonis is a Greek name that is usually said to mean “lord”.

Adonis is a figure from Greek mythology, a beautiful young man loved by the goddess Aphrodite. When he was killed by a wild boar, the red anemone was said to spring from his blood. The name is thought to come from the Semitic word adon, meaning lord, since the story of Adonis likely came to Greece from the Phoenician world. In English, an Adonis has come to mean a strikingly handsome man. As a given name, Adonis is used in the United States and Latin America. It feels bold and dramatic, with Don and Ado as possible nicknames.

Popularity over time

06251.2k1.9k2.5k192019401960198020002020Peak 2023: 2,102
US babies named Adonis per year, 1880 to 2025

Adonis first appears in US Social Security records in 1918. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 33 different years, starting in 1993. Its best national rank was #175 in 2023, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,102 babies. In 2025, 1,462 babies were named Adonis, and it ranked #241 nationally. That is 306% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.

Its national rank moved from #3,211 in 1920, #3,689 in 1950, #1,227 in 1980, #756 in 2000, #804 in 2010, and #241 in 2025. Of the 21,593 US boys named Adonis since records began, 48% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 6,081 babies.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Felix, Jett, Hayes, Matias, and Knox.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Adonis ranked highest in Nevada, District of Columbia, and Georgia.

StateRank thereBabies
Nevada#11427
District of Columbia#1396
Georgia#16675
Alaska#1665
South Carolina#16834

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Adonis is usually pronounced uh-DAH-nis, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-is”.

Middle names for Adonis

A few middle names that flow with Adonis: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Adonis

Similar names

Artemis Unisex
AHR-tuh-mihs
“Greek goddess; meaning uncertain” · Greek
#1,017
Alexis Unisex
uh-LEHK-sihs
“helper, defender” · Greek
#554
Orion Boy
oh-RY-uhn
“name of a mythological hunter” · Greek
#334
Apollo Boy
uh-PAH-loh
Greek
#445
Osiris Boy
oh-SY-rihs
Egyptian
#1,077
Memphis Unisex
MEHM-fuhs
“enduring and beautiful” · Egyptian
#640
Leander Boy
lee-AN-dur
“lion man” · Greek
#1,463
Damian Boy
DAY-mee-uhn
“to tame” · Greek
#109
Nicolas Boy
NIH-kuh-luhs
“victory of the people” · Greek
#177
Phoenix Unisex
FEE-niks
“mythical firebird; dark red” · Greek
#329
Damien Boy
DAY-mee-uhn
“to tame” · French
#352
Hector Boy
HEK-ter
“holding fast” · Greek
#409

Lists that include Adonis

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Adonis mean?

Adonis is a Greek name that is usually said to mean “lord”.

What is the origin of the name Adonis?

Adonis has Greek roots. Adonis is a figure from Greek mythology, a beautiful young man loved by the goddess Aphrodite.

Is Adonis a popular name?

Yes. Adonis ranked #241 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.

Is Adonis a boy or girl name?

Adonis is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Adonis?

Adonis is usually pronounced uh-DAH-nis. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings