Madison: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Girl name origins & meanings

What does Madison mean and stand for as a girl's name?

Meaning:

English: Good; child of Maud, child of Matthew
Old English: Gift of God

Gender: Female, unisex

Syllables: 3

Pronunciation: The name Madison is pronounced mad-uh-son

The name Madison originally comes from an English surname meaning "son of Maud." It gained popularity as a given name in the United States during the 1980s, partly due to the movie Splash, where the mermaid character chose the name after spotting Madison Avenue in New York City. It has since become a widely used name for both boys and girls.

Girl name variations

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Madison mean and stand for as a boy's name?

Meaning:

English: Good; son of Maud, son of Matthew
Old English: Gift of God

Gender: Male, unisex

Syllables: 3

Pronunciation: The name Madison is pronounced mad-uh-son

When used for boys, the name Madison maintains its origins from an English surname meaning "son of Maud." While it is a unisex name, its use for boys has been less prominent compared to girls, especially in recent decades. Historically, the name's meaning and significance remain consistent regardless of gender, representing noble and traditional roots in English culture.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English: metronymic from the medieval female personal name Madde, a form of Maud (see Mould 1) or Magdalen (see Maudlin).

James Madison (1751–1836), 4th President of the U.S. (1809–17), was born in VA, the son of a planter. He was descended from John Madison, a ship’s carpenter from Gloucester, England, who had settled in VA in about 1653.

Famous people with this last name

Holly Madison

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Johnny Knoxville

Melanie Brown

Rob Thomas

Madison in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Madison Lee from Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle - A former Angel turned villain, played by Demi Moore.
Madison Paige from Heavy Rain - A photojournalist and one of the main characters in the video game.
Madison Montgomery from American Horror Story: Coven - A young witch with powerful abilities, portrayed by Emma Roberts.
Madison from Splash - A mermaid who falls in love with a human, played by Daryl Hannah.
Madison Clark from Fear the Walking Dead - A high school guidance counselor and one of the series' protagonists, portrayed by Kim Dickens.

Popularity of the Name Madison

According to Social Security Administration data, Madison has remained a popular name in the United States over the years. Currently, it ranks among the top 50 most popular names, though its popularity has seen slight fluctuations.

Historically, the name Madison gained significant attention after the release of the movie Splash in 1984, where Daryl Hannah's mermaid character adopts the name after seeing Madison Avenue in New York City. This brought the name into mainstream awareness, leading to a surge in its use. Notable people named Madison include former U.S. President James Madison and contemporary actress Madison Pettis. The name also appears in various fictional works, such as the TV series Mad Men and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.