Madison
Say it: MAD-i-son/ˈmædɪsən/
GirlMeans usually explained as "son of Matthew"7 letters3 syllables
#148
in Ireland (2025)
#149 with spellings combined
31
babies in 2025
#86
best rank (2014)
1,092
babies since 1995
Down 60
10-year rank change
Madison through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | #149 |
| 2024 | 32 | #145 |
| 2023 | 27 | #176 |
| 2022 | 43 | #123 |
| 2021 | 53 | #106 |
| 2020 | 34 | #146 |
| 2019 | 34 | #157 |
| 2018 | 42 | #137 |
| 2017 | 63 | #95 |
| 2016 | 56 | #105 |
| 2015 | 71 | #89 |
| 2014 | 78 | #86 |
| 2013 | 65 | #101 |
| 2012 | 64 | #100 |
| 2011 | 80 | #89 |
| 2010 | 67 | #100 |
| 2009 | 71 | #96 |
| 2008 | 59 | #110 |
| 2007 | 40 | #153 |
| 2006 | 30 | #165 |
| 2005 | 15 | #256 |
| 2004 | 14 | #257 |
| 2003 | 6 | #439 |
| 2002 | 5 | #443 |
| 2001 | 5 | #441 |
| 2000 | 4 | #465 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Madison mean?
Usually explained as "son of Matthew"
English surname, usually from Mathieson (son of Matthew), sometimes from Maddy, a pet form of Maud.
Say it right
MADison
The story of Madison
Madison started out as an English surname. It is usually traced to Mathieson, “son of Matthew”, and sometimes to “son of Maddy”, Maddy being a pet form of Maud. Its best-known bearer is James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and many American towns are named after him.
As a girl’s name it owes a lot to the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid picks the name Madison from a street sign for Madison Avenue in New York. The name took off in the United States afterwards, and spread from there.
In Ireland Madison first reached the CSO list in 1995. It had the most babies in 2011, with 80 girls, and its best rank was number 86 in 2014. It caught on sooner in Northern Ireland, where it reached 37th in 2006. The CSO counts Maddison separately, and 31 girls were named Madison in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Madison (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Madison (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
MaddisonAddisonMackenzieHarper
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Maddie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | 31 | 1,092 |
In Northern Ireland
#161 in 2025 with 11 babies. Best rank #37 (2006); 766 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.