Madison most commonly means “son of Maud” or “son of Matthew,” coming from an old English surname that later became a popular first name, especially for girls in the late 20th century.

Name origin

  • Madison began as an English surname formed from a parent’s name plus “-son,” originally meaning “son of Maud” or “son of Maddy.”
  • Maud is a medieval form of Matilda, from Old High German roots meaning “strength in battle” or “mighty in battle.”

Core meanings

  • Common meanings given today are “son of Maud,” “son of Matthew,” and by extension ideas like “mighty in battle” or “gift of God.”
  • Some modern name guides phrase this as “son of the mighty warrior,” tying the name to strength and bravery.

Modern usage

  • Madison shifted from a primarily masculine surname to a very popular first name for girls in the US from the late 20th century onward.
  • The 1980s film Splash , where a mermaid takes the name Madison from Madison Avenue, helped boost its use as a girl’s name.

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