Madison

Madison meaning

Madison is an international girl's name of English origin.

Son of Matthew (Mathieson), or son of Maddy, an English surname

Also used to mean: gift of God

Madison is an English surname recorded from the early fifteenth century. The Online Etymology Dictionary explains it as probably, in most cases, a form of Mathieson, "son of Matthew", and sometimes "son of Maddy", from a pet form of the medieval woman's name Maud. Because Matthew means "gift of God", some name lists carry that meaning over. The surname is best known from James Madison, the fourth US president, after whom the city of Madison, Wisconsin, was named in 1836. Its use as a girl's first name is a modern American one from the late twentieth century. It is said MAD-i-sun.

Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com) · entry Madison · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Madison · Strong's G3156, Matthaios (Bible Hub)

Famous namesakes

• James Madison, fourth president of the United States (surname)

Popularity abroad

• #40 United States, girls 2025 (up 5 from 45 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #175 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Madison · Madisyn · Maddison

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