Addison
Addison Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
AD-ih-sun
Meaning of Addison: Addison derives from the Old English patronymic surname Addyson or Adison, meaning son of Adde, where Adde was a medieval short form of Adam.
The name Adam itself derives from the Hebrew ‘adam, meaning man, ground, or earth—giving Addison an etymological chain from Hebrew through Old English to modern American naming.
The -son suffix was the standard English patronymic form, parallel to the Scottish -son and the Scandinavian -sen.
What Does Addison Mean? Origin & Etymology
Joseph Addison (1672–1719)—English essayist, poet, and co-founder of The Spectator—is the most prominent historical bearer of the surname, which gave it literary and intellectual associations in the English-speaking world. According to SSA records, Addison was recorded predominantly for boys before 1990 and only minimally for girls.
According to SSA records, Addison entered the girls’ top 100 in 2003 and reached peak rank 11 in 2009 with over 7,400 births—one of the strongest surname-to-girls’-name surges of the 2000s decade.
As of 2024, it ranks #68 with 3,731 registered births. Its decline from peak is gradual and consistent with other surname-style names of that era.
The 2000s surge of Addison mirrors the broader American trend of adopting surname-style names for girls: Madison, Morgan, Mackenzie, and Addison all followed similar trajectories in that decade. The -son ending lends Addison a slightly androgynous quality, which many parents consciously sought.
Notably, the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy featured a character Dr. Addison Montgomery from 2005 onward, providing direct television-driven naming influence.
How Popular Is Addison?
Numerology & Symbolism of Addison
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Addison – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Addison
What does Addison mean?
Addison means son of Adam, from the Old English patronymic Addyson. Adam derives from Hebrew ‘adam (man, earth), giving Addison an etymological chain from Hebrew through medieval English to modern American naming.
Where does the name Addison come from?
Addison comes from an Old English surname meaning son of Adde (a medieval short form of Adam). It was predominantly a boys’ name before 1990 and made a near-complete gender switch in the 2000s, driven partly by the TV character Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy.
How popular is Addison in the US?
Addison ranks #68 for girls in the US in 2024, according to SSA records, with 3,731 registered births. It peaked at rank #11 in 2009 with over 7,400 births—one of the decade’s biggest surname-to-girls’-name surges. Its current position reflects natural post-peak decline.
What are spelling variants of Addison?
Is Addison used for boys?
Addison is now given almost exclusively to girls in the US. It nearly disappeared from the boys’ top 1000 after 2010—a near-complete gender switch similar to Madison. SSA records show it ranked in the boys’ top 500 in the early 20th century but has not returned to that position.