Maddison
MA-dih-suhn
Maddison is a spelling variant of Madison, an English surname meaning “son of Maud” (from the medieval name Maud, a Norman form of Matilda, meaning “mighty in battle”). The double-d variant emerged alongside the name’s shift to feminine given-name use.
Madison rose explosively as a girls’ name after the 1984 film Splash, in which Daryl Hannah played a mermaid who chose the name from a New York street sign. Within a few years it had become one of the fastest-rising names in American history.
Maddison peaked at No. 281 in 2009 with 1,167 births. In 2024 it stands at No. 487 with 627 births, well below its height.
What the name Maddison means
The double-d spelling distinguishes it from the more popular Madison (which peaked inside the top 3 in the early 2000s) and gives the name a slightly more elaborate visual identity.
Three syllables — MAD-ih-sun — with stress on the first beat. The name feels confident and contemporary, with a surname-style directness that was distinctly fashionable in the 1990s-2000s.
Parents choosing Maddison over Madison often want to distinguish their daughter’s name from the most popular spelling, which ranked No. 2 in the US for several years.
Variants include Madison, Madyson, and Madisyn. Combined SSA counts for all spellings make this one of the most significant name families of the 2000s.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Maddison
Maddison - similar names
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