Adair Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: uh-DARE //əˈdɛər//
Origin: Scottish; Irish
Meaning: Scottish: 'oak tree'; Irish: 'from the oak tree ford'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Adair has its roots in the Old English and Scottish languages, deriving from the Gaelic "Aodh" meaning "fire" and the Old English "dær" which translates to "oak tree." This combination suggests a meaning akin to "oak tree of fire" or "fiery oak." The name entered the English language through the Norman influence in the 12th century, where it was adopted into various forms, including the surname Adair, which later transitioned into a given name. The surname itself is believed to have originated from a place name in Scotland, particularly associated with the Adair family in Ayrshire.
Historically, the name Adair has been borne by notable figures, including members of the Scottish nobility. The Adair family was prominent in the 15th century, and the name is associated with various historical documents and records from that period.
Additionally, the name appears in literature and historical texts, reflecting its significance in Scottish heritage. The use of Adair as a given name became more common in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as surnames transitioned into first names.
Culturally, Adair carries connotations of strength and resilience, symbolized by its connection to the oak tree, which is often associated with endurance and stability in various traditions. The name's Gaelic roots also link it to themes of fire, representing passion and vitality.
While diminutive forms such as Ada may be used, Adair itself stands out for its unique blend of historical and cultural significance, embodying both natural imagery and noble lineage.
Famous people named Adair
In this section, you will find notable people named Adair. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Adair who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Adair who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Adair Turner is a businessman and author best known for his work with the Financial Services Authority, the Institute for New Economic Thinking, and the Climate Change Committee.
Adair McCulloch is a musician best known for his contributions to the band The New Lost City Ramblers and his work in folk music.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Adair, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Adair. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Adair was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Adair has ranked as high as #3116 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, North Carolina, New York, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Adair has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Adair is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Adair was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Adair.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 90 | 67 | 23 |
| 2024 | 81 | 59 | 22 |
| 2023 | 86 | 64 | 22 |
| 2022 | 65 | 46 | 19 |
| 2021 | 52 | 34 | 18 |
| 2020 | 36 | 21 | 15 |
| 2019 | 64 | 34 | 30 |
| 2018 | 39 | 22 | 17 |
| 2017 | 71 | 48 | 23 |
| 2016 | 53 | 33 | 20 |
| 2015 | 76 | 56 | 20 |
| 2014 | 68 | 33 | 35 |
| 2013 | 77 | 46 | 31 |
| 2012 | 89 | 66 | 23 |
| 2011 | 115 | 91 | 24 |
| 2010 | 89 | 67 | 22 |
| 2009 | 113 | 93 | 20 |
| 2008 | 81 | 63 | 18 |
| 2007 | 120 | 100 | 20 |
| 2006 | 93 | 78 | 15 |
| 2005 | 88 | 72 | 16 |
| 2004 | 93 | 77 | 16 |
| 2003 | 79 | 65 | 14 |
| 2002 | 53 | 38 | 15 |
| 2001 | 40 | 27 | 13 |
| 2000 | 43 | 31 | 12 |
| 1999 | 46 | 34 | 12 |
| 1998 | 39 | 23 | 16 |
| 1997 | 24 | 17 | 7 |
| 1996 | 29 | 14 | 15 |
| 1995 | 42 | 15 | 27 |
| 1994 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1993 | 27 | 13 | 14 |
| 1992 | 28 | 10 | 18 |
| 1991 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1990 | 26 | 6 | 20 |
| 1989 | 28 | 12 | 16 |
| 1988 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1987 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1986 | 27 | 5 | 22 |
| 1985 | 27 | 5 | 22 |
| 1984 | 20 | 5 | 15 |
| 1983 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1982 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1981 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 1980 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1979 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1978 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1976 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1974 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1973 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1972 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1969 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 1968 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1967 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1966 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1965 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1964 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1963 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1962 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1961 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1960 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1959 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1958 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1957 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1956 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1955 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1954 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1953 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1952 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1951 | 25 | 7 | 18 |
| 1950 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 1949 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1948 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 1947 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1946 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1945 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1944 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1942 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1941 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1940 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1939 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1938 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1937 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1936 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1934 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1933 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1932 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1931 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1930 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1928 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1927 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 1926 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1925 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1924 | 20 | 6 | 14 |
| 1923 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| 1922 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1921 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 1920 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1919 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1918 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1917 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1916 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1914 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Top States for Adair (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 13 | |
| TX | 10 |