'Adam' originates from Hebrew, specifically the word 'אָדָם' (ʾĀḏām), where the root 'ʼdm' meant 'man' and is related to 'adamah' meaning 'ground, earth'.

'Adam' passed into Greek as 'Ἀδάμ' (Adam) and then into Latin as 'Adam'; Old English and Middle English recorded forms such as 'Adama' and 'Adam', and it eventually became the modern English proper name 'Adam'.

Initially it meant 'man' or 'mankind' (and was associated with 'ground/earth'); over time it remained the name of the first biblical man and became widely used as a personal name and occasional common noun for 'a man'.