Adonis Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

Few names command a room quite like Adonis. It is a moniker that carries a heavy, glittering weight, immediately evoking images of physical perfection, magnetic charm, and mythological grandeur. While it was once considered too bold or grandiose for a modern child, similar to naming a baby “God” or “Legend”, the cultural tide has shifted. In an era where parents seek names with main character energy and strong, vowel-heavy sounds, Adonis fits right in. It strikes a balance between ancient history and modern swagger, largely popularized recently by the Creed film franchise and celebrity culture.

Historically, the name is synonymous with the Greek god of beauty and desire, a figure so handsome he captivated goddesses. However, beyond the surface-level vanity often associated with the name, there is a deep history of harvest, renewal, and nobility.

Verdict: Adonis is a bold, confident choice for a baby born in 2025. It offers the rhythmic appeal of names like Augustus or Atticus but with a modern, athletic edge that feels fresh rather than dusty.

What Does Adonis Mean?

Adonis is a Greek boy name that carries a dual layer of meaning. Etymologically, it translates simply to “lord” or “master.” However, in cultural context, the dictionary definition has evolved to mean “a very handsome young man.”

The name is derived from the Semitic word adon, which signifies a ruler or lord. This linguistic root is shared with the Hebrew word Adonai, used to refer to God. Therefore, while the modern usage implies physical beauty, the root meaning is one of authority, leadership, and reverence.

Where Does the Name Adonis Come From?

Adonis finds its origin as the name of a famous figure from Greek mythology. According to the legend, Adonis was a youth of remarkable beauty who became the center of a feud between Aphrodite (the goddess of love) and Persephone (the queen of the underworld).

The story of Adonis is actually an allegory for the cycle of the seasons. He was a skilled hunter ⁽¹⁾ who was tragically killed by a wild boar. The drops of his blood are said to have bloomed into the anemone flower. Because he spent half the year in the underworld and half on earth, he represents the death of nature in winter and its rebirth in spring.

How Popular is the Name Adonis?

For decades, Adonis was considered a “one-person name”, too tied to the myth to be usable for a real child. That has changed dramatically. It is no longer a rare gem but a rising star in the American naming landscape.

The name languished in obscurity for most of the 20th century. However, it began a steep upward trajectory in the late 1990s and has accelerated in the last decade. Two major cultural moments fueled this rise: the release of the movie Creed (featuring the main character Adonis Creed) and the rapper Drake naming his son Adonis in 2017. These events transformed the name from a dusty myth into a modern symbol of strength and celebrity.

It is currently a top 250 name in the US, indicating it is familiar and accepted, but not yet overused like Liam or Noah.

How Do I Pronounce Adonis?

You pronounce Adonis by saying, “uh-DAH-nuhs” or “uh-DON-iss.”

The emphasis is placed firmly on the second syllable. The “A” is soft (schwa sound), and the final “s” is crisp. It’s common to hear the name spoken with an emphasis on the “oh” sound (uh-DOH-nis), but the standard American pronunciation leans toward the short “o” or “ah” sound.

Is Adonis a Boy or Girl Name?

Adonis is traditionally considered a boy’s name. This gender assignment is strict due to the name’s history; the word itself was used in Romantic poetry as a synonym for a particularly beautiful or athletic male archetype.

While we are seeing a rise in gender-neutral naming, Adonis retains a highly masculine energy, similar to names like Atlas, Apollo, or Titus. Parents seeking a feminine equivalent often look to names like Venus, Aphrodite, or even Adonia.

Variations of Adonis

Adonis is well-known and incredibly popular among literary and mythology buffs. While the Greek spelling is the standard, there are linguistic cousins that carry the same root meaning of “Lord” across different cultures.

• Adon (Hebrew)
• Adonai (Hebrew)
• Adoniah (Biblical Hebrew)
• Adonis (Spanish/Latin)
• Adonys (Modern Creative)
• Donis (Lithuanian)

Nicknames for Adonis

If picking a name for your baby that’s also easily turned into a nickname is important, then Adonis is a great choice. It offers both sporty and vintage nickname options.

Common Nicknames:

• Ade
• Addie
• Don
• Donnie
• Donny

Creative & Rare Nicknames:

• Nis: A unique, punchy ending-sound nickname.
• Oni: pulls from the middle vowels for a softer sound.
• Doz: A playful, high-energy twist.

Names Similar to Adonis

Adonis’s well-known mythological associations may not be what you are looking for, or perhaps you want a name that strikes the same powerful chord without the direct link to beauty.

Here are names that share the same “Ancient/Mythological” or “Strong Vowel” vibe:

• Apollo: Like Adonis, this is a major Greek figure associated with the arts and beauty.
• Atlas: Shares the Greek origin and the “A” beginning, but implies strength rather than beauty.
• Cassius: Shares the rhythmic “us/iss” ending and a sense of antiquity.
• Cyrus: A regal name meaning “Sun,” sharing the Persian/Greek historical feel.
• Darius: Another strong, kingly name from the ancient world.
• Legend: A modern word-name that carries the same bravado as Adonis.
• Orion: A mythological hunter, just like Adonis, but associated with the stars.
• Titus: A short, punchy New Testament name with Roman roots.
• Atticus
• Ezra

Middle Names for Adonis

Adonis is a “main character” name with three syllables. It pairs best with middle names that are grounding and classic to anchor it, or short and edgy to modernize it.

Classic & Grounding

These names balance the flamboyance of Adonis with timeless tradition.

• Adonis Alexander
• Adonis Benjamin
• Adonis Gabriel
• Adonis James
• Adonis Nathaniel
• Adonis Samuel
• Adonis Theodore

Short & Modern

These one-syllable pairings create a punchy, rhythmic flow.

• Adonis Blake
• Adonis Cade
• Adonis Crew
• Adonis Jett
• Adonis Jude
• Adonis Knox
• Adonis Zane

Soft & Vowel-Heavy

These names lean into the romantic, poetic side of Adonis.

• Adonis Avery
• Adonis Elijah
• Adonis Isaiah
• Adonis Julian
• Adonis Oliver

Sibling Names for Adonis

If you are having a second child and want to pair their name with Adonis, you need a name that can stand up to its grandeur.

For a Brother

You want a name that feels equally strong and perhaps shares the ancient or “tough” aesthetic.

• Axel
• Cairo
• Dante
• Evander
• Julius
• Leonidas
• Malakai
• Maximus
• Titan
• Xavier

For a Sister

For a girl, mythological names or names with a regal aura work beautifully alongside Adonis.

• Athena
• Calliope
• Cleo
• Eloise
• Freya
• Genevieve
• Juniper
• Octavia
• Penelope
• Seraphina
• Thalia

Famous People Named Adonis

While Adonis is best-known for its connection to Greek mythology, several notable figures helped establish its growing popularity in sports and arts.

• Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said Esber): A famed Syrian poet born in 1930. He adopted the name Adonis at age 17 to alert editors to his precocious talent and is a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Adonis Graham: The son of rap superstar Drake and artist Sophie Brussaux. His birth brought massive global attention to the name in pop culture.
• Adonis Jordan: An American former basketball player for the NBA who played for the Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets.
• Adonis Shropshire: A Grammy-winning American songwriter and producer who has worked with Mariah Carey, Usher, and P. Diddy.
• Adonis Stevenson: A Canadian former professional boxer who held the WBC light heavyweight title for five years.

Adonis in Pop Culture

• Adonis Creed: The protagonist of the Creed film series (a spin-off of the Rocky franchise), played by Michael B. Jordan. This character is largely responsible for the name’s surge in “tough guy” appeal.
• The Mythological Adonis: The original archetype of male beauty. His story of death and resurrection was celebrated in the Adonia festivals by ancient Greek women.
• Adonais: While the spelling differs, this is the name Percy Bysshe Shelley gave to John Keats in his famous elegy, cementing the link between the name and tragic, youthful brilliance.

FAQs About the Name Adonis

You may have more questions about the nuances of this powerful name.