Find out how popular the first name Adair has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Adair by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Adair is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 65% of people named Adair being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 64 male babies and 22 female babies born with the name Adair.

The history of the first name Adair

The name Adair has its origins in the Gaelic language, derived from the Old Irish word "athar," meaning "ford" or "shallow crossing." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, when it was used as a topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a ford or a shallow river crossing.

The earliest recorded use of Adair as a first name dates back to the 12th century in Scotland, where it was primarily used as a surname by families living in the Scottish Lowlands. One of the earliest documented references to the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of homage sworn to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Adair family, a Scottish clan based in County Antrim, Ireland. The most notable member of this family was Sir Robert Adair (1763-1855), a British diplomat and politician who served as Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and later as Governor of Bombay.

Another influential figure bearing the name Adair was John Adair (1757-1840), an American soldier and politician who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as Governor of Kentucky from 1820 to 1824.

In the realm of literature, Adair appears in the works of Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), who featured characters with this name in his novels, such as "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "The Heart of Midlothian."

One of the most famous bearers of the name Adair in the 20th century was Adair Craigmill (1913-1989), an American journalist and author known for her work as a war correspondent during World War II and the Korean War.

Another notable figure was Adair Crawford (1748-1795), an American pioneer and Revolutionary War soldier who played a significant role in the settlement of Kentucky and Tennessee.

While the name Adair has its roots in Scotland and Ireland, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in North America and Australia, where it has gained popularity as a given name for both males and females.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Adair was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Adair, please contact us.

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