Adrian

Adrian is a Latin name derived from Hadrianus, meaning "from Hadria," referring to a town in northern Italy that also gave its name to the Adriatic Sea. The name was borne by the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus, known in English as Hadrian, who ruled from 117 to 138 CE and is remembered for constructing Hadrian's Wall in Britain. It was further spread through the Catholic Church by several popes who took the name, including the only English pope, Adrian IV. Related forms include Adriano in Italian and Spanish, Adrien in French, and the feminine variant Adriana.