Explore the Family Name Adonis
The meaning of Adonis
1. Haitian, Guyanese, South African, and Hispanic (Philippines): from the personal name Adonis, borne in Greek mythology by a beautiful youth who was the lover of both the goddesses Aphrodite (in summer) and Persephone (in winter). The surname might have been applied as a nickname, but in most cases it probably originates from the personal name Adonis, which is today common especially in the Philippines. This surname is also found in France, where it is very rare. 2. American shortened and altered form of the Greek patronymic Antoniadis or of some other derivative of the personal name Antōni(o)s (see Anthony), reflecting a variant pronunciation of this name.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Adonis in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Adonis has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 66,676th in terms of commonality, but by 2010, it had jumped to 53,538th—a change of nearly 20 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also saw an increase from 277 to 386 during the same period. Consequently, the proportion of people named Adonis per 100,000 population rose by 30 percent, from 0.1 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,676 | #53,538 | 19.7% |
| Count | 277 | 386 | 39.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.13 | 30% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Adonis
The Decennial U.S. Census information on the ethnic identity associated with the surname Adonis shows notable changes over the decade. While the majority identified as Black, increasing slightly from 60.65 percent in 2000 to 63.47 percent in 2010, there were significant shifts in other groups. Hispanic identification almost doubled, rising from 5.05 percent to 9.33 percent. However, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by nearly 20 percent, and those identifying as two or more races dropped by over half. Identification as American Indian and Alaskan Native was completely absent in 2010 data. The percentage of individuals identifying as White slightly increased from 12.27 in 2000 to 12.95 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 60.65% | 63.47% | 4.65% |
| White | 12.27% | 12.95% | 5.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 15.16% | 12.18% | -19.66% |
| Hispanic | 5.05% | 9.33% | 84.75% |
| Two or More Races | 4.33% | 2.07% | -52.19% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.53% | 0% | -100% |