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Madisson

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAD-ih-sun /ˈmæd.ɪ.sən/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Madison, an Old English surname meaning 'son of Maud' or 'son of Matthew', ultimately tracing to Hebrew Matityahu, 'gift of God'.High

In 30 seconds: Madisson is a creative spelling of the blockbuster name Madison, offering a subtle personalization of one of the top American girls' names of the early 2000s.
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Origin HighOld English, Hebrew
MeaningVariant spelling of Madison, an Old English surname meaning 'son of Maud' or 'son of Matthew', ultimately tracing to Hebrew Matityahu, 'gift of God'.
U.S. rank (2025)#319 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births958 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,676

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519892025

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

History & Origin

Madisson is a spelling variant of Madison, an English surname derived from Maddison, meaning 'son of Madd' — Madd being a pet form of Maud or Matthew. The name Matthew traces to Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God'. Madison was historically a masculine surname, famous through US President James Madison (1751–1836).

The transformation of Madison into a girls' first name was rapid and culturally specific. Following the film Splash (1984), Madison entered girls' naming charts almost immediately and by the late 1990s had become one of the most popular girls' names in the United States. Multiple spelling variants arose, including Madison, Madisyn, and Madisson. The double-s spelling Madisson is less common, offering a distinctive touch while preserving the name's familiar sound and feel.

Did you know? The name Madison for girls was virtually nonexistent before the 1984 film Splash, in which Daryl Hannah plays a mermaid who takes her name from Madison Avenue — one of the most dramatic single-film influences on American baby naming in history.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name: Madison — Etymology and film-driven popularity explosionSocial Security Administration Name Data — Popularity data for Madison and variants

Variations

MadisonMadisynMadisenMaddison

Nicknames

MaddieMadiMaddy

Famous Bearers

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If you like Madisson…

Madison— the standard spelling of the same name, with identical meaning and sound
Addison— three-syllable surname-as-girl's-name with the same -ison ending and parallel 2000s rise
Emerson— three-syllable surname name popular for girls in the same era with similar rhythm

Frequently Asked

What does the name Madisson mean?

Madisson means 'son of Matthew' or 'gift of God', as a spelling variant of Madison from Old English and Hebrew.

How do you pronounce Madisson?

Madisson is pronounced MAD-ih-sun (/ˈmæd.ɪ.sən/), three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Madisson a boy or girl name?

Madisson is used as a girl's name; the original Madison was a masculine surname before the 1984 film Splash popularized it for girls.

How popular is Madisson?

Madisson is a less common variant of Madison. The standard spelling Madison was the top US girls' name in 2001 and 2002.