📖 About Maddison
Maddison is an alternative spelling of Madison, an English surname-turned-given name derived from "son of Maud" (or Matthew), with Maud itself tracing back to the Germanic Mahthildis — meaning "strength in battle". The name gained enormous momentum as a feminine given name following the 1984 film Splash, in which the mermaid protagonist playfully adopted it from a New York street sign. The quirky double-D spelling — Maddison — emerged primarily in Australia and the UK as parents sought to distinguish their daughters from the flood of Madisons. In Australia, Maddison had a spectacular rise: barely registering before 1992, it rocketed into the top 25 by 1995–1996 and held a consistent top-35 position through the 2000s and early 2010s before gradually easing. At its Australian peak it ranked #13 in 1998, with nearly 310 babies given the name that year. Since then the trend has softened — by 2020 it had drifted to around rank 87 — reflecting the broader cooling of the Madison-family names after two decades of dominance. The name carries a breezy, coastal energy that resonated strongly with Australian parents, and remains a recognisably nineties touchstone for a generation of young women.
📍 Details
- OriginEnglish
- Gender♀ Female
- MeaningA popular name in Australia
⭐ Famous People
- Maddison Brown — Australian actress and model known for her role in the TV series Dynasty and her campaigns for major international fashion houses.
- Maddison Inglis — Australian professional tennis player who has competed on the WTA Tour and represented Australia in international competition.
- Maddison Connaughton — Australian journalist and editor known for her work at The Saturday Paper and her coverage of social justice and human rights.