NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Adams

A masculine name derived from the Hebrew word for "earth" or "soil".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Adams is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Adams popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 7 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2012 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Adams. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Adams ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 7 boys were registered as Adams.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Adams as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

7 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Meaning

What does Adams mean?

The name Adams is derived from the Hebrew name "Adam", which means "earth" or "man". It originates from the biblical story of the creation of the first man, Adam, in the Book of Genesis. The name has been in use since ancient times and has been adopted by various cultures and languages over the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Adam is in the Hebrew Bible, where it refers to the first man created by God. The name is also mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is spelled as "Aadam". In the Christian tradition, Adam is considered the father of all humanity, and his name has been widely used as a given name throughout the ages.

The name Adams is a variant of Adam that emerged in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic surname, indicating "son of Adam". Over time, Adams became a given name in its own right, often used as a middle name or as a first name for boys.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Adams. One of the most famous is John Adams (1735-1826), the second President of the United States and a Founding Father. Another prominent individual is Samuel Adams (1722-1803), a revolutionary leader and one of the key figures in the American Revolution.

Other notable people with the name Adams include Ansel Adams (1902-1984), an acclaimed American photographer known for his iconic black-and-white images of the American West; Douglas Adams (1952-2001), the British author best known for the comedic science fiction series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"; and Amy Adams (born 1974), an American actress who has received numerous accolades, including six Academy Award nominations.

While the name Adams has deep roots in religious and historical contexts, it has also become a popular choice for parents in modern times, often chosen for its strong and down-to-earth connotations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Adams over time

The chart below shows babies named Adams registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Adams, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Adams
02457201220182024

Decades

Adams by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Adams was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5119 3 1
2010s #3047 12 2

Related

Names similar to Adams

FAQ

Adams: questions and answers

How popular is the name Adams in the UK right now?

In 2024, Adams was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Adams most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 7 babies registered as Adams in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Adams?

A masculine name derived from the Hebrew word for "earth" or "soil".

How many people are called Adams in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Adams across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.