Adonis

The first name Adonis (Ἄδωνις) originally comes from Greek mythology and can be translated into English as 'the Lord' or, more freely, as 'the ruler.' Its roots likely lie in the Semitic language and were later adopted into Phoenician and Ancient Greek.

What does the name Adonis mean?

The name Adonis (Ἄδωνις) is a mythological first name from Greece, which translates into English as 'the Lord' or 'the ruler.' Its origin is likely Semitic, and the name made its way into Phoenician and Ancient Greek. It derives either from the Phoenician word adōn, meaning 'the Lord,' or from the ancient Hebrew adonai for 'the Lord, the ruler.' In Greek mythology, Adonis represents the god of beauty and desire and plays a central role in various mystery religions. He is considered an extraordinarily beautiful young god and embodies the ideal of the attractive youth. Additionally, he is the lover of the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite (known as Venus in Roman mythology). The name has various spelling variants, including Ádo̱nis (Ancient Greek), Adônis (Portuguese), and Adónis (Czech). Other forms include Adonija and Adonisz, while the female variant is Adonia. A well-known bearer of the name was Adonis Viennensis, the Archbishop of Vienne in Lorraine, who belonged to a significant Frankish family and spent much of his life in Italy. Since the 1990s, the name has also been occasionally used in German-speaking regions.

Where does the name Adonis come from?

Adonis is a male first name with Phoenician and Ancient Greek origins, meaning 'the Lord' or 'the ruler.' The name is composed of the Phoenician term adōn, meaning 'the Lord,' and the ancient Hebrew adonai, meaning 'the Lord, the ruler.' This first name is used in various languages such as Danish, English, Galician, Portuguese, Spanish, and Czech.

How do you pronounce Adonis?

Adonis has a three-syllable, flowing structure. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'A-do-nis' [aˈdoːnɪs]. The name begins with an open A sound that conveys width and presence. The stressed middle syllable with a long O provides a full sound. The gentle '-nis' at the end gives the name a harmonious finish. Overall, Adonis makes a soft, sensual, and yet powerful impression through its fullness and grandeur.

When is the name day of Adonis?

The name day for Adonis is celebrated on July 8 and December 16.

Popularity

Adonis enjoys great popularity in Germany and currently ranks 1,344th in the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2007, when it reached 1,124th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 180 times as a first name, placing it 1,694th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,868th.

Nicknames & pet names

Adi / Ado / Adonid / Don / Doni / Donni / Nisi

Famous people

• Adonis Garcia (baseball player)
• Adonis Georgiadis (Greek historian)
• Adonis Hilario (football player)
• Adonis Kemp (baseball player)
• Adonis Kyrou (director)
• Adonis Mufalali (politician in Zambia)
• Adonis Ramos (football player)
• Adonis Rivas (boxer)
• Adonis Santa Maria (basketball player)
• Adonis Shropshire (composer and songwriter)
• Adonis Stevenson (boxer)
• Adonis Thomas (basketball player)