📖 About Addison
Addison is an English patronymic surname-turned-given-name, literally meaning "son of Adam" (via the medieval diminutive Addie). It first appeared as a surname in medieval England, most famously associated with Joseph Addison, the 18th-century essayist and co-founder of The Spectator. For centuries it remained firmly in surname territory, with only occasional use as a masculine given name. The dramatic shift came in the early 2000s, when Addison exploded as a girls' name in the United States, riding the wave of surname-as-first-name trends alongside Madison, which likely paved the way with its similar sound. Addison peaked at #11 in the US during the 2000s before settling around #38 in the 2020s — still firmly in the top 50. In Australia, it entered the top 100 around 2008, peaked at #50 in 2011, and has gently tapered since. The name's appeal lies in its crisp, professional sound and the accessible nickname Addie. It remains primarily a feminine name in contemporary usage, though it sees occasional use for boys as well.
📍 Details
- OriginEnglish
- Gender♀ Female
- MeaningSon of Adam
🔀 Variants & Related Names
⭐ Famous People
- Addison Rae — American social media personality, dancer, and actress who rose to fame on TikTok and became one of its highest-earning creators
- Joseph Addison — English essayist, poet, and politician who co-founded The Spectator magazine in 1711, shaping modern English prose style
- Addison Russell — American professional baseball shortstop who was part of the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series championship team
- Thomas Addison — British physician who first described Addison's disease and pernicious anemia, pioneering modern endocrinology