Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Madison
GirlEnglish· “son of Maud”
- Meaning
- son of Maud
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- MA-duh-suhn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #40
- US babies 2025
- 4,945
- Best rank
- #2 (2001)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Madison
Madison is an English name that is usually said to mean “son of Maud”.
Madison began as an English surname, usually explained as "son of Maud", from the medieval form of Matilda, though some sources derive it from forms of Matthew. It was long familiar as a surname, borne by James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. It gained first-name use after the film Splash in 1984, in which a mermaid takes her name from a street sign for Madison Avenue in New York. After that it grew rapidly into one of the leading American girl names. Madison sounds polished and friendly, with Maddie and Maddy as nicknames. It shows how surnames can move into first-name use and cross from boys to girls.
Famous parents who chose Madison: Olly Murs and Amelia Tank (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Madison first appears in US Social Security records in 1970. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 41 different years, starting in 1985. Its best national rank was #2 in 2001, the same year it reached its highest count of 22,166 babies. In 2025, 4,945 babies were named Madison, and it ranked #40 nationally. That is 51% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #3 in 2000, #8 in 2010, and #40 in 2025. Of the 419,806 US girls named Madison since records began, 46% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 98,438 babies. Since 2010, 130,867 more have been named Madison.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Hannah, Brianna, Sydney, Destiny, and Haley.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Madison ranked highest in Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | #10 | 95 |
| Maryland | #11 | 139 |
| New Jersey | #16 | 232 |
| South Carolina | #17 | 96 |
| New York | #19 | 370 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Madison is usually pronounced MA-duh-suhn, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-on”.
Middle names for Madison
A few middle names that flow with Madison: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Madison
Similar names
Addison Girl
A-duh-suhn
“son of Adam” · English
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Allison Girl
AL-ih-suhn
“noble; form of Alice” · English
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Emerson Unisex
EH-mur-suhn
“son of Emery” · English
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Remington Unisex
REM-ing-tuhn
“from an English place name” · English
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Alison Girl
A-lih-suhn
“noble; diminutive of Alice” · French
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Maddison Girl
MAD-ih-suhn
“son of Maud” · English
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Allyson Girl
AL-ih-suhn
“noble kind” · English
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Addyson Girl
AD-ih-suhn
“variant of Addison, 'son of Adam'” · English
#1,413
Avalon Girl
AV-uh-lon
“island of apples” · Welsh
#1,459
Adison Girl
AD-ih-suhn
“son of Adam (variant of Addison)” · English
#7,895
Emily Girl
EH-muh-lee
“rival, striving” · Latin
#34
Avery Unisex
AY-vur-ee
“from Alfred, elf counsel” · English
#37
Lists that include Madison
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Madison mean?
Madison is an English name that is usually said to mean “son of Maud”.
What is the origin of the name Madison?
Madison has English roots. Madison began as an English surname, usually explained as "son of Maud", from the medieval form of Matilda, though some sources derive it from forms of Matthew.
Is Madison a popular name?
Yes. Madison ranked #40 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Madison a boy or girl name?
Madison is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Madison?
Madison is usually pronounced MA-duh-suhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings