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Madden

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAD-en /ˈmæd.ən/High

Meaning: Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Madáin, from Irish Gaelic madán meaning little dog or hound; the -in diminutive is applied to madra (dog) or related formsMedium

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname name meaning little hound, Madden has a confident two-syllable sound and is also inseparably associated with the legendary NFL video game franchise that has made it a name with sports-culture cache.
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Origin MediumIrish, Gaelic
MeaningAnglicization of the Irish surname Ó Madáin, from Irish Gaelic madán meaning little dog or hound; the -in diminutive is applied to madra (dog) or related forms
U.S. rank (2025)#676 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births402 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,681

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201219972025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Madden is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Madáin, from the Gaelic personal name Madán, which is believed to derive from a diminutive of madra (dog) or a related root meaning hound. Dogs held special significance in Celtic culture as symbols of loyalty, hunting, and the warrior class. The Madden family were a prominent clan in County Galway.

As a given name, Madden has been rising in the United States since the 2000s, driven partly by the cultural ubiquity of the Madden NFL video game franchise and by the broader fashion for Irish surname-names. It fits alongside Callahan, Sullivan, and Brady as Irish surnames that cross comfortably into the given-name space. Today Madden charts in the U.S. top 400 boys' names.

Did you know? The Madden NFL video game series, named after legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden (1936–2021), has sold over 130 million copies since 1988 — making Madden one of the most commercially iconic surnames in American sports culture.
Overall data confidence 78%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MadenMadden

Nicknames

MadMaddy

Famous Bearers

  • ★John Madden (1936–2021)
    American NFL coach and broadcaster, for whom the Madden NFL video game franchise is named.

If you like Madden…

Sullivan— shares the Irish Gaelic surname-name tradition and the same two-syllable cadence
Brady— another Irish surname-name with the same sports-culture association and bold sound
Finnegan— fellow Irish surname turned given name with the same Celtic heritage
Callahan— shares the same Irish surname-name style and the same rugged American appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Madden mean?

Madden is an Irish surname meaning little hound or little dog, from Gaelic Ó Madáin.

How do you pronounce Madden?

It is said MAD-en /ˈmæd.ən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Madden a popular baby name?

Madden has been rising in the U.S. top 400 boys' names since the 2000s, partly driven by the Madden NFL video game's cultural impact.

Is Madden an Irish name?

Yes — Madden is an anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Madáin.