"son of Matthew, gift of God"
Origin: English
Language: English
Maddison
Pronunciation: [ m-AD-ihs-uhn ]
Does Maddison flow with your last name?
A chart-topping modern classic with mermaid origins
American
English
Australian
Modern
Trendy
Playful
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Maddison
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Maddison
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"son of Maud, mighty in battle"
Origin: Germanic
Language: English
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Maddison
See all →What the Maddison report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Maddison 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 Maddison
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Maddison head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Maddison 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
- Associated with the mermaid film Splash (1984) which popularized Madison for girls
The Story of Maddison
Maddison is an alternate spelling of Madison, which began as an English surname meaning 'son of Maud or Matthew.' The root 'Maud' is itself a Germanic name meaning 'mighty in battle.' As a surname, Madison was carried to America by English settlers. Its transformation into a first name for girls was dramatically accelerated by the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid chooses the name Madison from a Manhattan street sign.
The Maddison spelling emerged as parents sought to personalize the hugely popular Madison. Madison dominated US baby name charts from the late 1990s through the 2010s, reaching #2 in 2001. The alternative spellings like Maddison and Madisyn account for a significant share of the total.
Madison as a girl's name is considered a distinctly American phenomenon. In Australia and the UK, Maddison has also found popularity. The name reflects the late 20th-century trend of repurposing surnames and masculine names for girls.
Historical Record
Maddison first appeared in US Social Security records in 1985.
Over 23,348 babies have been named Maddison in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Maddison is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #487 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The name Madison for girls was essentially invented by the 1984 Splash film — it barely existed as a girl's name before then
- President James Madison's surname, not the given name, popularized this as an American family name
Maddison in Other Languages
French
Madison
German
Madison
Spanish
Madison
Japanese
マディソン
Portuguese
Madison
Popularity Over Time
#487
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Maddison
M
Madison Beer
Musician
2000
American pop singer and actress who gained fame after Justin Bieber shared her YouTube cover
M
Madison Chock
Athlete
1992
American ice dancer and multiple US national champion figure skater
M
Madison Fictional
Other
The mermaid protagonist of the 1984 film Splash, played by Daryl Hannah, who chose the name from a street sign
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Ailani
Girl
"high chief, heavenly chief"
#326
Joy
Girl
"happiness, delight, rejoicing"
#442
Kataleya
Girl
"orchid flower (Cattleya species)"
#511
Lilliana
Girl
"lily flower, pure"
#411
Madelynn
Girl
"woman from Magdala"
#514
Compare Maddison with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #487
- Total SSA Count
- 627
- Cultural Origins
- American English Australian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Maddie
Madds
Madi
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, American heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Distinctive pick, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Maddison
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Maddison fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Maddison is also used as a boy name, ranked #23930.
View Maddison as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Maddison →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 Maddison with...
Same Origin Names (American)
See all American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Maddison
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Maddison and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Maddison 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 →
Ailani
Girl
Hawaiian origin
"high chief, heavenly chief"
#326 in US
Joy
Girl
Old French (joie) via Latin (gaudia) origin
"happiness, delight, rejoicing"
#442 in US
Kataleya
Girl
Botanical Latin/Spanish origin
"orchid flower (Cattleya species)"
#511 in US
Lilliana
Girl
Latin origin
"lily flower, pure"
#411 in US
Madelynn
Girl
Aramaic origin
"woman from Magdala"
#514 in US
Catherine
Girl
English origin
#320 in US
Annalise
Girl
Hebrew origin
"oath of God"
#462 in US
Edith
Girl
Anglo-Saxon origin
"blessed strife"
#528 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Maddison's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maddison
What does the name Maddison mean?
"son of Matthew, gift of God" (from English). "son of Maud, mighty in battle" (from Germanic). Maddison is an alternate spelling of Madison, which began as an English surname meaning 'son of Maud or Matthew.' The root 'Maud' is itself a Germanic name meaning 'mighty in battle.' As a surname, Madison was carried to America by English settlers. Its transformation into a first name for girls was dramatically accelerated by the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid chooses the name Madison from a Manhattan street sign.
What is the origin of the name Maddison?
Maddison has English, Germanic, American, and Australian origins. In English, it means "son of Matthew, gift of God". In Germanic, it means "son of Maud, mighty in battle".
Is Maddison a boy or girl name?
Maddison is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #487. As a boy name, it is ranked #23930. Maddison is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Maddison?
Maddison is pronounced m-AD-ihs-uhn.
How popular is the name Maddison?
Maddison is currently ranked #487 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Maddison?
Common nicknames for Maddison include Maddie, Madds, and Madi.
What are good middle names for Maddison?
Popular middle name pairings include Maddison Grace, Maddison Rose, Maddison Claire, Maddison Lynn, Maddison Faith, Maddison Paige, and Maddison Brooke.
What are good sibling names for Maddison?
Names that pair well with Maddison as siblings include Aiden, Brooklyn, Jayden, Taylor, Logan, Emma, and Riley.
How many syllables does Maddison have?
Maddison has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Maddison a common or rare name?
Maddison is a popular name, ranked #487 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Maddison?
About the Name Maddison
Maddison is a girl name with American, English, and Australian origins . The name means "son of Matthew, gift of God" in English .
Is Maddison a boy or girl name? Maddison is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #487 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #23,930. Maddison is more commonly used as a girl name.
Maddison is currently ranked #487 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Maddison has 3 syllables and is pronounced m-AD-ihs-uhn, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Maddison include Maddie, Madds, and Madi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Maddison include Maddie, Madden, Maddox, Maddy, Maddyn . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
English Names
Browse all names with this origin
M
Names Starting with M
More girl names like Maddison
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
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