Early English, from Hebrew "red", "man" or "earth", but the use of Adam as a feminine name disappeared long ago.

Whyte notes Adam Warenne [fl mid-12^th century] as the mother of King Malcolm IV & King William I ["the Lion"] of Scotland, although many other sources give her name as Ada de Warenne. Her daughter was named Ada after her. The two names would appear, therefore, to be inextricably linked but the nature of the link is unclear.