Declining since 2002, #40 for girls today.
Popularity of Madison since 1970
Babies named Madison per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 3,794 |
| 1990s | 91,907 |
| 2000s | 193,222 |
| 2010s | 98,438 |
| 2020s | 32,429 |
Meaning & origin
Madison is the rare name whose origin story has a timestamp: the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid picks her name off a Madison Avenue sign and is told, deadpan, that Madison isn't a name. American parents disagreed. The name had first flickered into girls' records in 1970, but after Splash it went vertical, entering the top 10 in the late 1990s and peaking in 2001 as one of the two or three most-used girls' names in the country.
Behind the pop-culture launch sits a genuinely old surname, "son of Madde", from a medieval pet form of Maud, and the full weight of James Madison's presidential legacy, which is why the name reads more stately on paper than its origin story suggests. The 2025 numbers show a name in graceful retreat rather than free fall: 40th place, about 1 in 325 newborn girls, down steadily since 2002 but still firmly mainstream, with Vermont, Delaware, and Connecticut its strongest states.
Today Madison is a generational marker in transition, ubiquitous among millennial and Gen-Z young women, increasingly available again for babies whose parents want something familiar but no longer everywhere. Maddie remains one of the most durable nicknames in American naming.
Madison began as a medieval English surname, "son of Madde", Madde being a pet form of Maud (itself from Matilda, Germanic for "mighty in battle"), though some surname dictionaries also allow derivation from Magdalen. In America the surname's fame rests on James Madison, fourth president and father of the Constitution, whose name marks Madison Avenue, Madison Square, and dozens of towns and counties. As a girls' first name it barely existed, Social Security data first records it in 1970, until the 1984 film Splash, in which Daryl Hannah's mermaid names herself after the Madison Avenue street sign. The joke ("Madison isn't a name") became a prophecy in reverse: within two decades it was one of the most popular girls' names in the country.
Read more: Madison on Wikipedia
Where Madison is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Madison” around the world
Where Madison lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Ireland
31
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#74
in 2025
Quebec
#100
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maddie, Madi, Mads
Famous people named Madison
- Madison Beer · American pop singer
- Madison Keys · American tennis player and Grand Slam champion
Sibling names for Madison
Names that share Madison's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mackenzie, Avery, Peyton, Harper, Brooklyn, Kennedy, Allison, Alyson, Alyssa, Brianna, Chelsea, Emilee, Hailey, Kayleigh, Makayla, Mikayla, Savannah, Sydney, Abigayle, Alisson, Allyson, Alysa, Amberly, Brookelyn, Caitlyn, Camryn, Destini, Ellison, Emmalee, Hailee, Haleigh, Ireland, Jailyn, Jalyn, Jordynn, Kailee, Kaitlynn, Karli, Katelynn, Kaylah, Kaylie, Kaylin, Kaylynn, Macey, Makenzie, Mallorie, Mckayla, Mickayla, Natalee, Nikole, Raleigh, Savanah, Abygail, Alexsis, Alizabeth, Allisson, Alysson, Amberlynn, Baileigh, Berlin, Brooklynne, Caylie, Charleston, Chyanne, Destany, Indiana, Jackelin, Jesslyn, Joscelyn, Joselin, Joshlyn, Katilyn, Kaytlin, Kaytlynn, Kennady, Kynnedi, Lexington, Londynn, Macayla, Mackayla, Mackenzi, Magen, Makaela, Makaila, Makaylah, Makenzi, Mallori, Michayla, Morghan, Mykayla, Raychel, Shaelynn, Shealyn, Shyanna, Abbagail, Albany, Alexiss, Alisyn, Alixandria, Allysia, Alyssah, Amberley, Americus, Brandalyn, Brooklyne, Chelsae, Chelse, Cheyenna, Emmagrace, Heavenleigh, Jacqlyn, Jazlyne, Joclyn, Joycelynn, Kaeley, Kaetlyn, Kaithlyn, Kaliegh, Katelyne, Katerin, Kathrynn, Kayly, Kaytee, Kearstin, Kennadie, Machaela, Mackensie, Mackenzee, Mackenzy, Mackinzie, Makailah, Malarie, Mckenzee, Mckinsey, Mekenna, Melenie, Mellany, Meloney, Mersadies, Michae, Mickenzie, Mikhaila, Mkayla, Morgann, Morganne, Mykaila, Mykenzie, Sarahann, Shelbey, Shyenne, Sierrah, Sydne, Taylah, Taylore, Yosselin, Abagayle, Alexcis, Allisen, Bethanee, Brookelynne, Caitlynne, Chealsea, Desirey, Destenie, Destynie, Haillie, Halleigh, Jailynn, Jaklyn, Jasmynn, Jassmin, Jazzlin, Jesalyn, Jordynne, Kaity, Karmin, Katelen, Katlynne, Kayelyn, Kaylamarie, Kenedee, Kenosha, Macaela, Mackenize, Maille, Makaylie, Malloree, Maloree, Mattilynn, Mckaela, Mckala, Mckaylah, Mckenize, Melanny, Mkenzie, Mychaela, Natilie, Natlie, Savannha, Shayanna, Taiylor, Teighlor, Trinidy, Chelcy, Devinne, Krisalyn, Kylieann, Mckenzey, Abygayle, Alexsys, Breawna, Brittlyn, Catlynn, Chastelyn, Chealsey, Greisy, Jackelynn, Jaedynn, Jennesis, Jessilynn, Jhoselin, Jillianna, Joscelynn, Kaetlin, Katherinne, Kaymarie, Kristalyn, Laruen, Leahanna, Mackensey, Mackenzey, Mackinze, Maekayla, Makaelah, Makayle, Makayli, Makenize, Makensey, Makenzey, Mckensi, Mekaela, Micaila, Michalla, Mikhala, Mikhayla, Morgin, Samanthan, Savahna, Savannaha, Savhanna, Seville, Tayelor, Taylorann
Brothers: Mason, Carter, Hudson, Logan, Parker, Grayson, Austin, Ashton, Dakota, Hunter, Jaden, Jefferson, Kaden, Mitchell, Preston, Trenton, Anderson, Bradly, Braydon, Colten, Dayton, Destin, Jaison, Jamison, Johnson, Jordon, Princeton, Quinton, Tylor, Williams, Zachery, Zackary, Zackery, Zakary, Braedon, Bronx, Cartier, Dameon, Dillion, Henderson, Jacobe, Jaysen, Kavion, Marquette, Mychal, Stevenson, Washington, Zakery, Adams, Alexx, Andruw, Chrystian, Chrystopher, Dadrian, Dennison, Donaven, Donivan, Eddison, Erickson, Jacobie, Jakson, Jamerson, Jaymeson, Jeferson, Keithen, Krystopher, Makell, Maxson, Montell, Mykael, Nicholes, Nickalas, Nikkolas, Princeston, Richardson, Treavor, Zacharey, Zachory, Zachry, Brandonlee, Cristan, Davison, Dray, Erikson, Garritt, Hutchinson, Jamesmichael, Jassen, Jayzon, Joenathan, Jonathyn, Jordain, Joshau, Jousha, Livingston, Machael, Masson, Micholas, Mickell, Mithcell, Nickalaus, Nicklous, Nickolis, Nycholas, Thomson, Tymothy, Zaccary, Zachrey, Zackry, Zakkery, Benjermin, Chicago, Ayiden, Braidan, Brandonn, Chaden, Christianjames, Donnavan, Elison, Garison, Jacksyn, Jaymason, Johnathin, Joshus, Kastin, Keiler, Mackson, Makyle, Markon, Mayfield, Mayjor, Mclaren, Naythen, Prynceton, Timoty, Treson, Tylerjames
Names like Madison
Names whose popularity has moved with Madison's over the last 50 years.
