How to Choose the Name "Madison" For Your Baby

Traditional or modern, common or unique—what name will you give your baby?

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Since it skyrocketed in popularity a decade or two ago, "Madison" has been consistently in the top of the most popular girl's names. There are many little "Madison" babies out there, but the abundance of nicknames will ensure that your little girl will be as unique as her personality.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

"Madison" is pronounced /MAD-ih-sun/ and comes from an English surname. Before it became a popular girl's name, it was a popular boy's first name and also a prominent last name.

Step2

"Madison" means "Son of Maud" and is usually thought to mean "strong fighter."

Step3

Many notable name bearers in history include James Madison (U.S. President), Madison S. Perry (4th governor of Florida) and Madison Jones (author). This girl's name couldn't be found on any records prior to 1985, but jumped in popularity due to the success of the Tom Hanks/Darryl Hannah movie "Splash," where the mermaid character chooses the name "Madison" from the sign on Madison Avenue. There are also hundreds of place names of "Madison" including Madison, Wisconsin, and Madison County, Tennessee.

Step4

Nicknames for "Madison" include "Maddie," and "Addy." Alternative spellings to the name are "Madyson," "Maddison," and "Madisyn."

Tips & Warnings

Check that your child's name sounds good when spoken aloud in combination with the middle and last names. Your baby will have this name for a long time, so it should flow smoothly and clearly.
Check that you are not bestowing an embarrassing initial combination on your baby, such as DUM, MOO or GUT.