Madison is a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

of English origin that has become a popular

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

in the United States, and to a lesser extent in Canada. Madison, also spelled Maddison, is a variant of Mathieson, meaning ''son of Matthew''. A different origin is alleged by some where ''Maddy'' is assumed to be the pet form of Maud and therefore the meaning is ''son of Maude''. Madison is also used as a given name. It has become popular for girls in recent decades. Its rise is generally attributed to the 1984 release of the film '' Splash''. From an almost non-existent given name before 1985, Madison rose to being the second-most-popular name given to girls in the US in 2001. In 2021, the most recent year of available data, it was ranked twenty-ninth. In 2022, it was the 41st most popular name given to girls in Canada. As a masculine given name, Madison can be found within the top 1,000 names for boys in the United States up until about 1952. The name returned to the top 1,000 in 1987, remaining there through 1999, and it was the 858th-most-common name for boys in 2004, but it remains uncommon as a masculine given name.

Surname

* Bailee Madison (born 1999), American-Canadian actress and singer * Cole Madison (born 1994), American football player *

Dolley Madison Dolley Todd Madison (née Payne; May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849) was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for holding Washington social functions in which she invited members of b ...

(1768–1849), wife of James Madison *

George Madison George Madison (June 1763 – October 14, 1816) was the sixth Governor of Kentucky. He was the first governor of Kentucky to die in office, serving only a few weeks in 1816. Little is known of Madison's early life. He was a member of the influ ...

(1763–1816), Governor of Kentucky * Guy Madison (1922–1996), American actor * Helene Madison (1913–1970), American competition swimmer * Holly Madison (born 1979), American model * Jaak Madison (born 1991), Estonian politician * James Madison (bishop) (1749–1812), first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, cousin of James Madison *James G. Madison, known as the

Mad Hatter The Hatter (called Hatta in ''Through the Looking-Glass'') is a fictional character in Lewis Carroll's 1865 book ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' and its 1871 sequel ''Through the Looking-Glass''. He is often referred to as The Mad Hatter ...

(born 1956/57), convicted bank robber in New Jersey * James Jonas Madison (1884–1922), U.S. Navy commander * James Madison Sr. (1723–1801), father of James Madison *

James Madison James Madison (June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the ...

(1751–1836), fourth President of the United States * Joe Madison (1949–2024), American political activist and radio host * Keith Madison (born 1951), American college baseball coach * Louise Madison (1911–1970), American tap dancer * Lucy Foster Madison (1865–1932), American novelist * Martha Madison (born 1977), American actress * Mary Madison (born 1950), American politician * Michael Madison (born 1977), American serial killer *

Mikey Madison Mikaela Mikey Madison Rosberg (born March 25, 1999) is an American actress. She began her career acting in short films and received recognition for her role as a sullen teenager in the FX (TV channel), FX comedy series ''Better Things (TV se ...

(born 1999), American actress * Piper Madison (born 2002), American singer * Rebecca Madyson (born 1979), Maltese sport shooter * Robert P. Madison (born 1923), American architect * Sam Madison (born 1974), American football player *Talia Madison, an alternate ring name of American professional wrestler Jamie Szantyr (born 1981), best known as

Velvet Sky Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an United States, American color commentator and retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and the National Wrestling Allian ...

* Tianna Madison (born 1985), American athlete * Ts Madison (born 1977) American entertainer, entrepreneur and LGBT activist

Given name

Male

* Madison Smartt Bell (born 1957), novelist * Madison Bumgarner (born 1989), Major League Baseball pitcher * Madison Cawthorn (born 1995), American politician * Madison Cooper (1894–1956), American businessman *

Madison Grant Madison Grant (November 19, 1865 – May 30, 1937) was an American lawyer, zoologist, anthropologist, and writer known for his work as a conservation movement, conservationist, eugenics, eugenicist, and advocate of scientific racism. Grant i ...

(1865–1937), lawyer, eugenicist, and conservationist * Madison Hedgecock (born 1981), American football player *

Madison Hemings Madison Hemings (January 19, 1805 – November 28, 1877) was the son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. He was the third of Sally Hemings' four children to survive to adulthood. Enslaved since birth, according to ''partus sequitur ventrem ...

(1805–1877), son of Thomas Jefferson's slave/mistress Sally Hemings * Madison E. Hollister (1808–1896), justice of the Idaho Territorial supreme court * Madison Hughes (born 1992), American rugby player * Madison Jones (1925–2012), author * Madison Marye (1925–2016), American politician * Madison Nelson (1803–1870), justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals * Madison S. Perry (1814–1865), fourth governor of Florida * Madison Washington (circa 19th century), instigator of slave revolt

Fictional male characters

* Madison Jeffries, comic book character in ''Alpha Flight'' *Madison "Mad" Twatter, minor character, played by Stephen Walters in British drama television series '' Skins''

Female

Madison * Madison Anderson (born 1995), American model and beauty pageant titleholder * Madison Bailey (born 1999), American actress *

Madison Beer Madison Elle Beer (born March 5, 1999) is an American singer and songwriter. Beer first gained substantial media coverage when Justin Bieber posted a link to one of her covers she posted on YouTube. In 2013, she released her debut single "Melo ...

(born 1999), American singer * Madison Bizal (born 2000), American ice hockey player * * Madison Brengle (born 1990), American tennis player *

Madison Browne Madison “Madi” Browne (born 5 January 1988) is an Australian netball player who has been one of the most successful Australian Netball players. Early life Madison Browne played for South Barwon Football and Netball Club when she was young ...

(born 1988), Australian international netball player * Madison Chock (born 1992), American ice dancer * Madison Cunningham (born 1996), American singer, songwriter and guitarist *

Madison Davenport Madison Danielle Davenport (born November 22, 1996) is an American actress, best known for her role as Beatrice in '' It's What's Inside'' and as Kate Fuller in '' From Dusk till Dawn: The Series''. She also appeared in '' Kit Kittredge: An Ame ...

(born 1996), American actress and singer *

Madison De La Garza Madison Lee De La Garza (born December 28, 2001) is an American actress and filmmaker. De La Garza is known for playing Juanita Solis on ''Desperate Housewives''. She is the younger half-sister of singer Demi Lovato. Early life and family Madis ...

(born 2001), American actress and younger sister of Demi Lovato * Madison Hu (born 2002), American actress * Madison Hubbell (born 1991), American ice dancer * Madison Iseman (born 1997), American actress *

Madison Keys Madison Keys (born February 17, 1995) is an American professional tennis player. She has been WTA rankings, ranked as high as world No. 5 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association, WTA. Keys has won ten WTA Tour-level career singles ...

(born 1995), American tennis player * Madison Kocian (born 1997), American Olympic gymnast * Madison Abigail Less (born 1998), American soccer player * Madison Lilley (born 1999), American volleyball player * Madison Lintz (born 1999), American actress * Madison Marsh (born 2001), American air force officer and Miss America 2024 titleholder * Madison McLaughlin (born 1995), American actress * Madison McReynolds (born 1993), American actress * Madison "Maddie" Mogen (died 2022), American murder victim * J. Madison Wright Morris (1984–2006), American actress *

Madison Nguyen Madison Nguyen is an Americans, American politician from California. She served on the San Jose City Council from 2005 to 2014, representing District 7, and she additionally served as Vice-Mayor from 2011 to 2014. She was the first Vietnamese-A ...

(born 1975), American politician * Madison Nonoa, New Zealand-born soprano opera singer * Madison Pettis (born 1998), American actress *

Madison Prespakis Madison Prespakis (born 2 November 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Carlton Football Club from 2019 to season 6. A midfielder who won multipl ...

(born 2000), Australian Rules footballer * Madison Rayne (born 1986), American professional wrestler * Madison Scott (1991–2011), Canadian formerly missing person * Madison Shipman (born 1992), American former professional softball player * Madison Strelow (born 1995), Australian Journalist *

Madison Thomas Madison Thomas is an independent film and television writer and director from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She is most noted for her 2022 documentary film '' Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On.'' Career Thomas' debut feature film was the post-apocal ...

, Canadian film and television director * Madison Young (born 1980), American pornographic actress, stage name *

Maddie Ziegler Madison Nicole Ziegler (; born September 30, 2002) is an American actress and dancer. She appeared in Lifetime (TV network), Lifetime's reality show ''Dance Moms'' from 2011 (at age 8) until 2016, and starred in a series of music videos by Si ...

(born 2002), American dancer Madisson *Madisson Hausburg (born 1994), ''

Siesta Key A siesta (from Spanish, pronounced and meaning "nap") is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those in warm-weather zones. The "si ...

'' cast member Madisyn * Madisyn Shipman (born 2002), American actress Madyson * Madyson Middleton (2006–2015), American murder victim Maddison * Maddison Brown (born 1997), Australian actress

Fictional female characters

Film *Madison, the mermaid in the film '' Splash'' and its sequel '' Splash, Too'' *Madison Morgan, the main antagonist in the film '' The DUFF'' *Madison Russell, a main character in '' Godzilla: King of the Monsters'' and '' Godzilla vs. Kong'', played by

Millie Bobby Brown Millie Bonnie Brown Bongiovi ( Brown; born 19 February 2004), known professionally as Millie Bobby Brown, is a British actress and producer. She gained recognition for playing Eleven (Stranger Things), Eleven in the Netflix science fiction ser ...

. *Madison Wolfsbottom, one of the antagonists in the animated film '' Clifford's Really Big Movie'' Television *Madison, a character from the series ''

This is Us ''This Is Us'' is an American drama television series created by Dan Fogelman that aired on NBC from September 20, 2016, to May 24, 2022. The series follows the lives and families of two parents and their three children in several different ti ...

'' *Madison, a character who appeared in the '' Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot'' episode "Bully Exposed" * Madison Clark, main protagonist portrayed by Kim Dickens in ''Fear The Walking Dead'' * Madison Duarte, cheerleader portrayed by Valery Ortiz in ''South of Nowhere'' *Madison Fear, a doll persona of ''Madison Beer'' in ''

Monster High Monster High is an American multimedia-supported fashion doll franchise created by toy designer Garrett Sander and launched by Mattel in 2010. Aimed at children ages 7–14, the franchise features characters inspired by monster movies, sci-fi ...

'' * Madison James, businesswoman portrayed by Sarah Joy Brown in ''Days of Our Lives'' *Madison Kellner, a recurring character in the second and third seasons of the WB drama series '' Everwood'' * Madison McCarthy, cheerleader portrayed by Laura Dreyfuss on ''Glee'' *Madison Maxwell, a PR expert portrayed by Brenda Song in ''

Dollface ''Dollface'' is an American comedy television series created by Jordan Weiss that premiered on November 15, 2019, on Hulu. It stars Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell, and Esther Povitsky. In January 2020, Hulu renewed the series for a ...

'' * Madison Montgomery, actress and witch portrayed by Emma Roberts in ''American Horror Story: Coven'' * Madison Rocca, the Blue Ranger in ''Power Rangers Mystic Force'' * Madison "Maddie" Rooney, high school student and one of two main protagonists and title characters jointly portrayed by Dove Cameron in ''Liv and Maddie'' * Madison Sinclair, student portrayed by Amanda Noret in ''Veronica Mars'' * Madison Taylor, a.k.a. Tomoyo Daidouji, a protagonist and costume designer portrayed by Maggie Blue O'Hara in the ''Cardcaptor Sakura'' English dub *Madison "Maddie" Nears, the protagonist in '' School Spirits''. *Madison "Maddie" Redfield, the daughter of Vice President Ashley Redfield in '' The Night Agent''. *Madisynn King, character portrayed by Patty Guggenheim in the Marvel TV show '' She-Hulk: Attorney at Law''. Video games * Madison Paige, photographer, journalist and protagonist primarily portrayed by Judi Breecher in ''Heavy Rain''

References

{{Given name, type=both English feminine given names English masculine given names English-language unisex given names English unisex given names Feminine given names Masculine given names Given names originating from a surname English-language surnames Patronymic surnames English-language feminine given names