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

Popularity of Adonis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Adonis is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Adonis being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,093 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Adonis.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Adonis in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Adonis

The name Adonis has its origins in Greek mythology, deriving from the Phoenician word "Adon," meaning "lord" or "master." The name is associated with the Greek god of beauty, desire, and vegetation.

According to Greek legends, Adonis was a strikingly handsome youth who was loved by Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. The myth of Adonis is believed to have originated in ancient Phoenicia, modern-day Lebanon, and later spread to Greece and other parts of the ancient world.

In Greek mythology, Adonis was born from an incestuous union between Myrrha (or Smyrna) and her father, the king of Cyprus. After being cursed by the gods for her actions, Myrrha was transformed into a myrrh tree, and Adonis was born from the tree's bark. The infant Adonis was discovered and raised by Aphrodite.

The earliest recorded references to Adonis can be found in the works of ancient Greek poets, such as Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," as well as in the writings of the Greek lyric poet Sappho, who lived around 600 BCE. The cult of Adonis became widely popular in ancient Greece and was celebrated annually with festivals and rituals.

One of the earliest notable figures named Adonis was Adonis of Byblos, a legendary ruler of the Phoenician city of Byblos, who is believed to have lived around the 9th or 8th century BCE. Another early figure was Adonis of Pella, a Greek philosopher and mathematician from the 4th century BCE.

In the Middle Ages, the name Adonis was used by some poets and writers as a symbol of male beauty and desire. One of the most famous literary works featuring the name is William Shakespeare's narrative poem "Venus and Adonis," published in 1593.

Other notable historical figures named Adonis include Adonis Hugonis (c. 1533–1635), a French theologian and writer; Adonis Villalpando (1617–1669), a Spanish painter; and Adonis Stevenson (1835–1914), an American politician and Vice President of the United States under Grover Cleveland.

The name Adonis has continued to be used throughout history, often associated with ideas of male beauty, youth, and passion. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich mythological origins and the enduring appeal of the Greek myth.

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 Adonis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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