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Addison

♂ Boy

Pronounced AD-ih-suhn /ˈæd.ɪ.sən/Medium

Meaning: Son of AdamMedium

In 30 seconds: Addison is an English name meaning 'son of Adam'.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningSon of Adam
U.S. rank (2024)#1930 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births81 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,363

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200618802024

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

History & Origin

Addison began as a patronymic surname, literally 'son of Adam', before becoming a given name. Its meaning ties it back to Adam, and it has long served boys despite its later popularity for girls. The variants Addisyn and Addyson keep the same sound with altered spellings.

Zoologist Addison Emery Verrill (1839-1926), Yale's first professor of zoology, is a bearer on the boys' side. The name's three syllables and surname roots give it a sturdy, traditional feel.

Did you know? Addison likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Addison — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AddisynAddyson

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Addison Emery Verrill (1839-1926)
    American zoologist and the first professor of zoology at Yale University, who built one of the largest invertebrate collections in the United States and described more than 1,000 animal species.

If you like Addison…

Adam— the name Addison's 'son of Adam' meaning points directly back to
Addisyn— a respelling of Addison listed among its variations
Addyson— another spelling variant of Addison in the record
Emerson— a fellow patronymic surname-name with a matching '-son' ending
Harrison— shares the 'son of' surname pattern and rhythm

Frequently Asked

What does the name Addison mean?

Addison is usually explained as meaning 'son of Adam ' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Addison?

It's commonly said AD-ih-suhn /ˈæd.ɪ.sən/.

Is Addison a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Addison is used as a boy name.

How popular is Addison?

In 2024, Addison ranked #1930 in the U.S. for boys, with 81 births recorded.