Boy Old & New Testament Known
Adam
earthy; red
אָדָם Ἀδάμ a.dam
Adam (Hebrew: אָדָם, a.dam) means “earthy; red”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In 2025 it was given to 3,511 children in the United States, ranking 101. Use is falling away. Around 582,453 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Abel in Genesis 4.
Which Adam?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Adam
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Adam
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 27 across 10 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Patriarchal
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Adam | rank 101 · 3,511 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | ADAO | 122,274 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | ADAN | 5,963 bearers · mean age 18.3 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Adão | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 3,511 | Falling |
| All-time total | 582,453 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 24,081 in 1984 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 2:19 |
| Last appears | Jude 1:14 |
| Cross-references | 585 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Eve co-occurrence Appears with Eve in Genesis 4.
- Seth co-occurrence Appears with Seth in Genesis 5.
- Enosh co-occurrence Appears with Enosh in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Cain co-occurrence Appears with Cain in Genesis 4.
- Enoch co-occurrence Appears with Enoch in Jude 1.
- Kenan co-occurrence Appears with Kenan in Luke 3.
- Abel co-occurrence Appears with Abel in Genesis 4.
- Irad co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Irad.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;
married to Eve (H2332);
father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;
§ Adam = "red"
1) first man
2) city in Jordan valley
Adam, the first man created by God, sinned and brought death into the world, but through Christ, the last Adam, came life and resurrection.
The biblical story
Adam was the first man, created by God on the sixth day of creation (Gen.1.26-27). He was formed from the dust of the ground, and God breathed life into him, making him a living being (Gen.2.7). God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it, and He created Eve, the first woman, from Adam's rib as a companion for him (Gen.2.15-25).
God allowed Adam to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that eating from this tree would lead to death (Gen.2.16-17). However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent and disobeyed God, eating the forbidden fruit (Gen.3.1-6). As a consequence, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and subjected to death, pain, and hardship (Gen.3.16-24).
After the fall, Adam and Eve had several children, including Cain, Abel, and Seth (Gen.4.1-2, 25). Adam lived for 930 years and died (Gen.5.5), but his legacy as the first man and the progenitor of the human race continued throughout the Bible.
In the New Testament, Adam is contrasted with Christ, who is referred to as the "last Adam" (1Co.15.45). While Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, Christ's obedience and sacrifice brought righteousness and life (Rom.5.12-21). The apostle Paul teaches that all people die because of their connection to Adam, but those who are in Christ will be made alive at the resurrection (1Co.15.22).
Adam's creation, fall, and redemption through Christ are central themes in the biblical narrative, highlighting God's plan to restore humanity's relationship with Him and the ultimate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.
Key verses
Adam appears in 27 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 2:19 -
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:20 -
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Genesis 2:21 -
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Genesis 2:23 -
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:8
Show all 27 references
Genesis (16)
- Genesis 2:19
- Genesis 2:20
- Genesis 2:21
- Genesis 2:23
- Genesis 3:8
- Genesis 3:9
- Genesis 3:17
- Genesis 3:20
- Genesis 3:21
- Genesis 4:1
- Genesis 4:25
- Genesis 5:1
- Genesis 5:2
- Genesis 5:3
- Genesis 5:4
- Genesis 5:5
Deuteronomy (1)
- Deuteronomy 32:8
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 1:1
Job (1)
- Job 31:33
Hosea (1)
- Hosea 6:7
Luke (1)
- Luke 3:38
Romans (1)
- Romans 5:14
1 Corinthians (2)
- 1 Corinthians 15:22
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
1 Timothy (2)
- 1 Timothy 2:13
- 1 Timothy 2:14
Jude (1)
- Jude 1:14
Name variants & nicknames
- Adán — Spanish
- Adão — Portuguese