Madison
Madison is a girls' name of English origin meaning “son of Matthew, gift of God.” It ranked #40 in the United States in 2025. Originally an English surname meaning 'son of Maud/Matthew.'
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how do you pronounce Madison?
MAD-ih-sun
where does the name Madison come from?
An English patronymic surname meaning son of Maud, from the medieval Maud or Matilda, though son of Matthew is also proposed. Either way the underlying sense is a surname of descent, and its literal masculine meaning sits oddly with its almost exclusively feminine modern use.
Its use as a girl's name exploded after the 1984 film 'Splash,' in which a mermaid chooses the name from a New York street sign.
how popular is this name?
Madison has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 41 years since 1985. It peaked at #2 in 2001, and ranked #40 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #40 |
| 2024 | #45 |
| 2023 | #37 |
| 2022 | #34 |
| 2021 | #29 |
| 2020 | #23 |
| 2019 | #26 |
| 2018 | #22 |
| 2017 | #17 |
| 2016 | #15 |
| 2010 | #8 |
| 2001 | #2 |
| 2000 | #3 |
| 1990 | #203 |
| 1985 | #624 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Madison fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Madison
James Madison, fourth president and principal drafter of the American constitution, gave the surname its standing, and Madison Avenue and the Wisconsin capital both honour him. Its conversion to a girls' name has an unusually precise origin: the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid takes the name from the street sign. It reached the American top ten by 1997.
who are famous people named Madison?
- President James Madison
- Madison (character in Splash)
what are the nicknames and variants of Madison?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Madison?
what names go well with Madison?
Sibling names that share Madison's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Madison
What does the name Madison mean?
Madison means “son of Matthew, gift of God”.
What is the origin of the name Madison?
Madison comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Maddison and Madisyn.
How popular is the name Madison?
Madison ranked #40 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2001, at #2, and it has spent 41 years in the top 1,000 since 1985.
Is Madison a boy or girl name?
Madison is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Madison?
Madison is pronounced MAD-ih-sun, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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