"little hound, little dog"
Origin: Irish
Language: Irish Gaelic
Madden
Pronunciation: [ m-AD-uhn ]
Does Madden flow with your last name?
A bold Irish surname name with spirited energy
Irish
American
English
Modern
Bold
Playful
Unique
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Madden
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Madden
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"descendant of Madán"
Origin: Irish
Language: English
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Madden
See all →What the Madden report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Madden the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Madden
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Madden head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Madden actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Madden NFL is the popular EA Sports video game franchise (since 1988) — generally positive but may associate name with video games
The Story of Madden
Madden is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Madáin, meaning 'descendant of Madán,' where Madán derives from 'madra' meaning 'dog' or 'hound.' Irish dogs were highly prized as hunting companions, making this a name of noble associations. The name has transitioned from an Irish surname to a modern first name for both boys and girls.
Madden as a first name gained momentum in the 2000s and 2010s as surname-style names became fashionable. The Madden NFL video game franchise, while bringing attention to the name, has not negatively impacted its use for girls.
The name reflects the Irish tradition of honoring family clans through surnames used as first names. The Madden family was a prominent clan in County Galway, Ireland.
Historical Record
Madden first appeared in US Social Security records in 1997.
Over 1,383 babies have been named Madden in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Madden is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #1,819 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- John Madden, the legendary NFL coach and broadcaster, popularized the Madden name through the iconic EA Sports franchise
- The Madden surname originated in County Galway and County Roscommon, Ireland
Madden in Other Languages
Irish
Ó Madáin
French
Madden
English
Madden
Spanish
Madden
Popularity Over Time
#1,819
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Madden
M
Madden Beaty
Actor
1996
American child actor known for various TV appearances
J
John Madden
Athlete
1936
NFL coach and broadcaster whose name became synonymous with football through the Madden NFL video game series
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Arie
Girl
"lion, lion of God"
#1,670
Bryanna
Girl
"high, noble, strength"
#1,744
Tess
Girl
"from the island of Thera"
#1,774
Dolly
Girl
"diminutive of Dorothy, beloved pet name"
#1,631
Lanie
Girl
"bright, shining light"
#1,835
Compare Madden with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,819
- Total SSA Count
- 111
- Cultural Origins
- Irish American English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Maddie
Mad
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Madden
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Madden fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Madden is also used as a boy name, ranked #690.
View Madden as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Madden →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Madden with...
Same Origin Names (Irish)
See all Irish names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Madden
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Madden and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Madden sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Arie
Girl
Hebrew origin
"lion, lion of God"
#1,670 in US
Bryanna
Girl
Old Irish (bri) origin
"high, noble, strength"
#1,744 in US
Tess
Girl
Greek Therasia origin
"from the island of Thera"
#1,774 in US
Dolly
Girl
English origin
"diminutive of Dorothy, beloved pet name"
#1,631 in US
Lanie
Girl
Old French (via Helen) origin
"bright, shining light"
#1,835 in US
Maisyn
Girl
Old French origin
"stone worker, mason"
#2,004 in US
Caitlin
Girl
Greek Aikaterine origin
"each of the two, pure"
#1,686 in US
Tamara
Girl
Hebrew origin
"date palm tree"
#1,755 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Madden's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Madden
What does the name Madden mean?
"little hound, little dog" (from Irish). "descendant of Madán" (from Irish). Madden is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Madáin, meaning 'descendant of Madán,' where Madán derives from 'madra' meaning 'dog' or 'hound.' Irish dogs were highly prized as hunting companions, making this a name of noble associations. The name has transitioned from an Irish surname to a modern first name for both boys and girls.
What is the origin of the name Madden?
Madden has Irish, American, and English origins. In Irish, it means "little hound, little dog". In Irish, it means "descendant of Madán".
Is Madden a boy or girl name?
Madden is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1819. As a boy name, it is ranked #690. Madden is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Madden?
Madden is pronounced m-AD-uhn.
How popular is the name Madden?
Madden is currently ranked #1819 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Madden?
Common nicknames for Madden include Maddie and Mad.
What are good middle names for Madden?
Popular middle name pairings include Madden Grace, Madden Rose, Madden Claire, Madden Jo, Madden Lee, Madden Anne, and Madden Skye.
What are good sibling names for Madden?
Names that pair well with Madden as siblings include Maddox, Hadley, Payton, Quinn, Ryder, and Finley.
How many syllables does Madden have?
Madden has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Madden a common or rare name?
Madden is an uncommon name, ranked #1819 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Madden?
About the Name Madden
Madden is a girl name with Irish, American, and English origins . The name means "little hound, little dog" in Irish .
Is Madden a boy or girl name? Madden is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,819 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #690. Madden is more commonly used as a boy name.
Madden is currently ranked #1,819 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Madden has 2 syllables and is pronounced m-AD-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Madden include Maddie and Mad. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Madden include Maddison, Maddie, Maddox, Maddy, Maddyn . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Irish Names
Browse all names with this origin
M
Names Starting with M
More girl names like Madden
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis