How to say it
AD · di · son
ˈæd.ɪ.sən
Feminine
Addison
Son of Adam
What it means
Old English surname meaning 'son of Adam' (Addy was a medieval pet form of Adam). Originally a masculine surname, now overwhelmingly used for girls in the US.
Addison started as an English surname meaning 'son of Adam' (via Addy, a medieval short for Adam). Joseph Addison, the 18th-century English essayist and co-founder of The Spectator, was the most famous historical Addison. The jump to first name was masculine until the 1990s, when American naming flipped it; by 2005 it was overwhelmingly used for girls. The flip is one of the clearest cases of the surname-first wave moving feminine. Addie is the usual short.
How to spell Addison
The standard spelling is Addison. Common variants include Addisyn, Addyson, but Addison is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #11 in 2007, currently #84 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Addison Montgomery (Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice) gave the name its decisive modern feminine anchor. Joseph Addison the essayist is the older masculine reference.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Addison Montgomery Kate Walsh's character in Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
- Joseph Addison 18th-century English essayist, co-founder of The Spectator
Spelling variants
- Addisyn
- Addyson
Names with the same feeling
See Addison from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Addison mean?
- Old English surname meaning 'son of Adam' (Addy was a medieval pet form of Adam). Originally a masculine surname, now overwhelmingly used for girls in the US.
- What does Addison mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Addison means "Son of Adam." Addison started as an English surname meaning 'son of Adam' (via Addy, a medieval short for Adam). Joseph Addison, the 18th-century English essayist and co-founder of The Spectator, was the most famous historical Addison. The jump to first name was masculine until the 1990s, when American naming flipped it; by 2005 it was overwhelmingly used for girls. The flip is one of the clearest cases of the surname-first wave moving feminine. Addie is the usual short.
- How do you pronounce Addison?
- Addison is pronounced ˈæd.ɪ.sən. Say it as AD-di-son, with the stress on the "ad" syllable.
- How do you spell Addison?
- The standard spelling is Addison. Common spelling variants include Addisyn, Addyson.
- Is Addison a boy or girl name?
- Addison is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Addison?
- Addison ranked #84 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.