Madison

Meaning of Madison

Madison began life as a sturdy Old English surname meaning “son of Maud” (and, some say, “son of Matthew”), yet over the last few decades she’s pulled off a remarkable reinvention—trading her tweed jacket for a sundress and landing squarely in the girls’ column. Pop-culture magic helped: when Daryl Hannah’s mermaid chose the name in the 1984 film “Splash,” parents from Maine to Malibu dove in, propelling Madison from virtual obscurity in the ’70s to a glittering Top-Three berth by 2002. Today she’s still riding high, comfortably nestled in the national Top 50, proof that her charm has legs far beyond the silver screen. The name carries a rich blend of images—Founding-Father gravitas (President James Madison), big-city sparkle (Madison Avenue), and arena-sized energy (Madison Square Garden)—yet it feels friendly and down-to-earth thanks to breezy nicknames like Maddie. Pronounced MAD-uh-suhn, Madison strikes a sweet balance: modern but rooted, playful yet polished, the kind of name that can chase fireflies, ace a board meeting, and still be home in time for dinner.

Pronunciation

American English

• Pronunced as MAD-uh-suhn (/ˈmædəsən/)

• Madeline
• Madeleine
• Matilda
• Addison