Adriaan

Adriaan is a masculine given name, the Dutch form of the names Adrian or Adrien. It originates from the Latin name Adrianus, which itself derives from Hadrianus. The root is associated with the ancient city of Adria in northern Italy or with the Adriatic Sea, reflecting historical name patterns used to indicate origin.

In Dutch usage, Adriaan is typically spelled with a double a. An older Dutch variant is Adriaen, which appears in historical records and in the names of several Dutch artists. The name is also found in other languages in forms such as Adrian (English), Adrien (French), and Adrián (Spanish). It remains a traditional male given name in Dutch-speaking regions, and was more common in past centuries while continuing to appear in modern naming.

Notable bearers with the Adriaan/Adriaen spelling have included figures in the Dutch Golden Age, such as painters Adriaen Brouwer and Adriaen van Ostade, who helped popularize the name in art history. In contemporary times, the form Adriaan is still used in the Netherlands and Belgium, with individuals bearing the name in various fields including literature, science, and public life. The name carries historical associations with classic Dutch culture and is recognized as a distinctly Dutch variant of Adrian.