Where does the name Madison come from?

Madison is a girl name of English origin.

Is Madison a boy or a girl name?

Madison is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 98% of children given the name Madison are girls and 2% are boys.

How popular is the name Madison in 2023?

Madison ranks #37 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2001 with 22,292 babies.

How do you pronounce Madison?

Madison is pronounced MAD-ih-son (3 syllables).

What are common spellings of Madison?

Madison is also written as Maddison, Madisyn.

A name from English · Girl

Madison

An English surname meaning "son of Maud" (Maud being a medieval short form of Matilda). All but unknown as a first name until the 1984 film Splash gave it to a mermaid; now firmly mainstream feminine.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

410,280 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

5,205 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

MAn English surname meaning "son of Maud" (Maud being a medieval short form of Matilda). All but unknown as a first name until the 1984 film Splash gave it to a mermaid; now firmly mainstream feminine.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Madison".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Maddison Most common Madisyn

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Madison.

M
James Madison (4th U.S. president, namesake of the surname's prestige)

Quick answers

People often ask about Madison.

What does the name Madison mean?: Madison means an English surname meaning "son of Maud" (Maud being a medieval short form of Matilda). All but unknown as a first name until the 1984 film Splash gave it to a mermaid; now firmly mainstream feminine.
Where does the name Madison come from?: Madison is a girl name of English origin.
Is Madison a boy or a girl name?: Madison is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 98% of children given the name Madison are girls and 2% are boys.
How popular is the name Madison in 2023?: Madison ranks #37 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2001 with 22,292 babies.
How do you pronounce Madison?: Madison is pronounced MAD-ih-son (3 syllables).
What are common spellings of Madison?: Madison is also written as Maddison, Madisyn.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.