Madison
Madison Origin and Meaning
Since we wrote a book called Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana, encouraging parents to move beyond overused names, it's no secret what we think of this trendy surname name, inspired by a mermaid named Madison in the 1980s movie Splash.
Madison originated as an English surname, a variant of Mathieson, meaning "son of Matthew." It is occasionally translated as "son of Maud," as Maddy was historically a nickname for Maud. It was introduced as a feminine given name when the mermaid character in Splash takes her name from a street sign on New York’s Madison Avenue..
Madison ranked in the Top 10 for nearly 20 years, from the late 1990s until 2015, and has been on a gradual decline since then. But there are still more than 5000 baby girls named Madison in the US each year (along with a few dozen baby boys).
Madison’s longtime popularity can be credited to its connection to several of the hottest naming trends of the 21st century so far. It’s a place name, the capital of Wisconsin, ala Savannah and Sienna. It’s also a surname with an Old Money veneer in the vein of Addison and Emerson that feels gender-neutral even if it’s not.
And it may have felt like a fresh way to get to the popular nickname Maddie or Maddy, though the classic Madelyn may have more staying power.
- Madison Rank in US Top 1000
- Madison Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
- Names Similar to Madison
- Famous People Named Madison
- Madison in Pop Culture
- Madison in Nameberry Forums
Madison Rank in US Top 1000
Madison Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Madison Popularity
- 36US2023
- 426Nameberry2024
- 54Canada2023
- 177England2023
- 182Scotland2023
- 98Ireland2017
- 65Australia2018
- 44New Zealand2023
- 329Mexico2021
20 Names Similar to Madison
Famous People Named Madison
- Madison Nicole "Maddie" ZieglerAmerican actress and dancer on TV's "Dance Moms".
- Madison Elle BeerAmerican singer.
- Madison Michelle PettisAmerican actress.
- Madison Rose De La GarzaAmerican actress.
- Madison CarabelloAmerican actress; twin of Miranda Carabello.
- Madison HubbellAmerican ice dancer.
- Madison ChockAmerican ice dancer.
- Madison McLaughlinAmerican actress.
- Madison Raynering name of Ashley Nichole Cabot, American pro wrestler.
- Madison HuAmerican actress.
- Madison BrengleAmerican tennis player.
- Madison KeysAmerican tennis player.
- Madison Danielle DavenportAmerican actress.
- Madison McReynoldsAmerican actress.
- (Jessica) Madison Wright MorrisAmerican actress
- Madison LintzAmerican actress
- Madison WilsonAustralian swimmer.
- Madison Taylor KocianAmerican gymnast.
- Madison BaileyAmerican actress
- Madison Justicesister of American actress Victoria Justice.
- Madison Cross (b. 1992)American singer; daughter of singer Christopher Cross.
- Madison Clapp (b. 1996)daughter of actor/TV personality Johnny Knoxville.
- Madison "Maddie" Brown (b. 1997)daughter of reality TV's Kody & Jenelle Brown ("Sister Wives").
- Madison Alani Anoa'i (b. 2003)daughter of wrestler Rosey.
- Madison Elizabeth McMahon (b. 2000)daughter of actor Julian McMahon and model Brooke Burns.
- Madison Mychal Quick (b. 2010)daughter of ice hockey player Jonathan Quick.
- Madison Brown Belafonte (b. 2011)daughter of Spice Girl Melanie Brown and Stephen Belafonte.
- Madison Mary Harper McGrath (b. 2015)daughter of cricketer Glenn McGrath.
- Sadie Madison Sandler (b. 2006)daughter of actor Adam Sandler and Jacqueline Titone.
- Violet Madison Nash (b. 2010)daughter of actress Christina Milian and rapper The Dream.
Madison in Pop Culture
- Madisonself,named mermaid in film "Splash"
- Madison North (Beardsley)character on American soap "All My Children"
- Madison the Magic Show Fairycharacter in the Rainbow Magic series
- Madison Montgomerycharacter on TV's "American Horror Story: Coven"
- Madison Clarkmain character on TV's "Fear the Walking Dead"
- Madison 'Maddie' Rooneycharacter on TV's "Liv and Maddie"
- Madison RoccaBlue Ranger on TV's "Power Rangers Mystic Force"
- Madison Duartecharacter on TV's "South of Nowhere"
- Madison Taylor aka Tomoyo Daidoujicharacter in anime "Cardcaptor Sakura"
- Madison Paigecharacter in video game "Heavy Rain"
- Madison Sinclairminor character on TV's "Veronica Mars"
- Madison McCarthycheerleader on TV's "Glee;" twin of Mason McCarthy
- Madison Finntitle character in "From The Files of Madison Finn" by Laura Dower
- Madison VanWatsoncharacter in "The Sims 3" computer game
- Madison "Maddie" Youngcharacter in film "Hush"
- Madison Paynea character from the Nickelodeon cartoon "Welcome To The Wayne"
- Madisoncharacter in film "A Cinderella Story"