About the name Adrian
Etymology & meaning
Adrian comes from the Latin Hadrianus — "from the town of Adria", the name behind Emperor Hadrian and the Adriatic Sea. The feminine is Adriana; Bulgarian also spells Adriyan and Adriyana.
History & patron saint
The patrons are Saints Adrian and Natalia (26 August) — a young couple of Nicomedia. Adrian, a pagan official, embraced Christ on witnessing the martyrs' firmness, and Natalia strengthened him to the end — the two are a model of marital faithfulness.
Traditions & customs
The name day is a late-summer one, often familial in the most literal sense — Adrian and Natalia are patron spouses, so the day is also kept as a feast of marital fidelity. Treats come with August's fruit.
Popularity & notable bearers
Adrian and Adriana have gathered pace in Bulgaria since the 1990s — international in sound, yet firmly anchored in the Orthodox calendar.