How to say it
MAD · i · sun
ˈmæd.ɪ.sən
Feminine
Madison
Son of Maud
What it means
An English surname meaning 'son of Maud,' Maud being a medieval Norman form of Matilda. Possibly also 'son of Matthew' in some lineages.
President James Madison's name gave the surname its American political and place-name weight (Madison, Wisconsin, and many other cities). The shift to a feminine first name came suddenly via the 1984 film Splash, where Daryl Hannah's mermaid character names herself Madison after seeing the Madison Avenue street sign. It was a joke at the time, since Madison wasn't a girl's name. Within a decade, Madison was a top-ten US girls' name. Currently still in the top fifty. Common short forms: Maddie, Madi.
How to spell Madison
The standard spelling is Madison. Common variants include Maddison, Madyson, Madisyn, but Madison is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #2 in 2001, currently #40 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
The 1984 movie Splash is credited with turning Madison from a surname into a common girls' first name. James Madison is the historical anchor.
Who's worn it
- James Madison 4th US president, principal author of the Constitution
- Madison (Splash) Daryl Hannah's mermaid in the 1984 film, credited with launching the name as a girl's first
Spelling variants
- Maddison
- Madyson
- Madisyn
Names with the same feeling
See Madison from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Madison mean?
- An English surname meaning 'son of Maud,' Maud being a medieval Norman form of Matilda. Possibly also 'son of Matthew' in some lineages.
- What does Madison mean in English?
- In English, Madison means "Son of Maud." President James Madison's name gave the surname its American political and place-name weight (Madison, Wisconsin, and many other cities). The shift to a feminine first name came suddenly via the 1984 film Splash, where Daryl Hannah's mermaid character names herself Madison after seeing the Madison Avenue street sign. It was a joke at the time, since Madison wasn't a girl's name. Within a decade, Madison was a top-ten US girls' name. Currently still in the top fifty. Common short forms: Maddie, Madi.
- How do you pronounce Madison?
- Madison is pronounced ˈmæd.ɪ.sən. Say it as MAD-i-sun, with the stress on the "mad" syllable.
- How do you spell Madison?
- The standard spelling is Madison. Common spelling variants include Maddison, Madyson, Madisyn.
- Is Madison a boy or girl name?
- Madison is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Madison?
- Madison ranked #40 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.