Meaning and history
Ad has several distinct uses. In Dutch it is a masculine short form of Adrianus or Adolf; Adrianus refers historically to the Roman town of Hadria, while Adolf combines Germanic elements meaning “noble” and “wolf.” In Hebrew, Ad is also a word and modern name meaning “eternity” or “forever,” an unrelated origin. Because the spelling crosses traditions, its meaning depends on the bearer’s language and full name. Dutch footballer Ad de Mos and Dutch politician Ad Melkert are notable bearers.