Madison
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Son of Matthew; son of Maud
Origin: English surname — a variant of Mathieson (son of Matthew) or Maddison
Popularity: Ranked #40 in 2025 with 4,945 babies born.
History: Madison has one of the most unusual origin stories in baby naming. It was almost entirely a surname — most famously that of President James Madison — until the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid picks the name off a New York City street sign. Within years it surged from near-zero to become one of the top girls' names in America, reaching #2 in 2001. It is a textbook case of pop culture's power to create naming trends overnight, and it defined the surname-for-girls movement.
Name length: 7 letters
How common is Madison? About 1 in 671 babies born in 2025 were named Madison, or roughly 13.6 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Madison
What does the name Madison mean?
Madison means “Son of Matthew; son of Maud” from English surname — a variant of Mathieson (son of Matthew) or Maddison roots.
What is the origin of the name Madison?
Madison has English surname — a variant of Mathieson (son of Matthew) or Maddison origin. The traditional meaning is “Son of Matthew; son of Maud”.
How popular is Madison?
Madison ranked #40 in 2025 — given to 4,945 babies that year.
When was Madison most popular?
Madison peaked in 2001 with 22,166 babies registered that year.
Is Madison a boy or girl name?
Madison is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Madisons in registered births are female.
Is the name Madison rising or falling in popularity?
Madison has fallen 17 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #23 in 2020 to #40 in 2025.
How long has Madison been recorded?
Madison appears in birth records across 145 years — from 1880 through 2025.