Adama as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Adama

What is the meaning of the name Adama ?

The baby name Adama is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced {'IPA': ['/əˈdɑːmə/', '/aˈdama/'], 'respelling': ['uh-DAH-muh', 'ah-DAH-mah']}.

Adama is Hebrew in Origin.

Adama unites two related streams. In Hebrew, Adama (’adamah, אדמה) is the word for “earth, soil,” source of the name Adam and a biblical toponym in Joshua. As a given name in Hebrew-speaking communities it tends to be feminine and evokes groundedness, fertility, and connection to the land. The meaning often expands to “of the earth” or “red earth,” reflecting the ancient association between humanity and the ground.

In West Africa, Adama developed as a local form of Adam through Arabic and Islamic influence, common among Fulani, Mandinka, Wolof, Soninke, and Bambara speakers. There it is widely used - primarily masculine but effectively unisex - across Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. Variants and cognates include Adam and Adem; Adamma (Igbo) is unrelated despite its look-alike form. Diminutives may include Ada or Addy in multilingual settings.