Adriano is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which means "rival" or "striver." It was a popular name during the Roman Empire and has since been adopted by many cultures around the world. The name Adriano gained significant popularity in Italy during the 20th century, peaking in the 1960s and remaining quite common today. It is also used in other Romance languages-speaking countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.
Adriano is a short form of the Italian name Adrianus, which is itself derived from the Latin name Hadrianus. This name was borne by several notable figures throughout history, most famously Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-138 AD), who built Hadrian's Wall in Britain and was known for his artistic and architectural patronage.
In literature and art, Adriano has been used as a character name, including in works by Italian author Italo Calvino. The name also lends itself to various translations and spelling variations depending on the language, such as Adrian in English or Adrián in Spanish. Despite its historical roots, Adriano remains a modern and popular choice for parents today, carrying with it a sense of classic elegance and cultural richness.
The name Adriano has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century, with a substantial increase in births starting from the late 1970s until peaking in 2006. Between 1921 and 1985, there were fewer than 20 births per year on average. However, this began to change in the late 1970s, with a steady increase in popularity, reaching an all-time high of 118 births in 2006. Since then, there has been a decline, with only 51 births recorded in 2023. Overall, Adriano has been given to 2407 babies since 1921.