The name Adrian has its origins in the ancient Roman world. It is derived from the Latin name Hadrianus, which itself came from the Roman family name Hadrius. This name is believed to have originated in the town of Adria, located in what is now northern Italy. The name Adria may stem from the Venetic word for sea or water.

Adrian was the name of several notable figures in Roman history. The most famous was the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus, better known as Hadrian, who ruled from 117 to 138 AD. Hadrian was known for building Hadrian's Wall in Britain and for his widespread travels throughout the Roman Empire.

The name Adrian also appears in early Christian writings. One of the earliest recorded instances is Saint Adrian of Nicomedia, a Roman officer who was martyred for his Christian faith around 306 AD during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Diocletian.

During the Middle Ages, the name Adrian was used throughout Europe, particularly in Italy, Spain, and England. One notable bearer was Adrian IV, the only English pope, who reigned from 1154 to 1159. Another was Adrian of Utrecht, a 9th-century theologian and scholar who wrote extensively on the liberal arts.

In the Renaissance period, the name Adrian was popular among artists and scholars. The Dutch humanist and philosopher Desiderius Erasmus was baptized as Gerard Geerts but took the name Erasmus after the Greek word for beloved, and Adrian as a second name.

Other notable Adrians throughout history include Adrian Willaert, a 16th-century Flemish composer who worked in Venice and was a key figure in the development of the Venetian School of composers. Adrian Leverkühn was the central character in Thomas Mann's novel Doctor Faustus, loosely based on the life of the composer Adrian Leverkuhn.