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Home › Baby Names Directory › Madison

Madison

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAD-i-sən /ˈmæd.ɪ.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Maud (or Madde/Matthew); an English surname carried by President James Madison, historically a boys' given nameHigh

In 30 seconds: Before the mermaid borrowed it, Madison was a boys' name — 'son of Maud' — worn by the father of the Constitution. For a son today, it's a deliberate reclamation with founding papers.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningSon of Maud (or Madde/Matthew); an English surname carried by President James Madison, historically a boys' given name
U.S. rank (2025)#5328 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births18 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,870

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199518802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Madison is an English surname meaning 'son of Maud' (a medieval powerhouse name itself, from Matilda) or of Madde/Matthew. James Madison — Constitution architect, fourth president — kept it masculine through American history, naming the avenue, the square, and the state capitals that Splash's mermaid later read as a first name.

After the film, girls claimed it almost entirely; boys' use today is rare and consciously presidential. A son named Madison carries the original deed to the name.

Did you know? The 1984 film Splash flipped Madison female in a single scene — Daryl Hannah's mermaid picks it off a street sign — and within a decade it ruled the girls' charts.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Madison — surname etymology

Variations

MaddisonMadisenMadsen

Nicknames

MadsSonny

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Madison…

Harrison— a fellow presidential -son surname
Jefferson— the founding-father companion name
Monroe— another presidential surname in modern circulation
Jackson— the -son giant that stayed mostly with the boys

Explore names like Madison

By themeunisexsurname-namepresidential
By meaningGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Madison mean?

Madison is an English surname meaning 'son of Maud' or 'son of Matthew'.

How do you pronounce Madison?

It's said MAD-i-sən /ˈmæd.ɪ.sən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Madison a boy or girl name?

Madison is mostly a girl's name today, but it began as a boys' surname-name; this page covers its use for boys.

How popular is Madison?

Madison is rare for boys in the U.S. today, a deliberate nod to its presidential origins.

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