Madison
MAD-i-sun /ˈmæd.ɪ.sən/
Meaning of Madison
Madison began as an English patronymic surname. Its transformation into a girls' first name is distinctly American, boosted dramatically by the 1984 film Splash in which a mermaid takes the name from a Manhattan street sign. US records show virtually no female Madisons before 1985; by 1999 it was a top-5 name.
Current popularity of Madison
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #29 |
Cultural notes
The Splash effect is well-documented in SSA data: an abrupt entry of the name in 1985, near-zero in prior years.
Notable bearers of Madison
James Madison (4th US President — the surname origin); the 1984 film Splash popularised first-name use.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Madison — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31