Madison

Meaning of Madison

Madison began as an English surname. The usual explanation is that it means son of Maud, with Maud a medieval form of Matilda, which means mighty in battle. Some name dictionaries instead connect the first element to Matthew, so the surname's ultimate origin is not entirely settled. It is pronounced MAD-uh-suhn (/ˈmædəsən/).

Its best-known historical bearer is James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and a leading architect of the Constitution; Dolley Madison, his wife, is also widely remembered. Madison Avenue has long stood for the American advertising industry, and Madison is the capital of Wisconsin. The name was rare for girls until the 1984 film Splash, in which Daryl Hannah plays a character called Madison. Contemporary bearers include tennis player Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, and singer Madison Beer.

As a girl's name in the United States, Madison first reached the top 10 in 1997. It peaked at No. 2 in 2001 and 2002, and 2001 remains its highest count, with 22,166 babies. By 2025 it ranked 40th, given to 4,945 girls, showing a long decline from its early-2000s high.

Pronunciation

American English

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

• Madeline
• Madeleine
• Matilda
• Addison