Madison
Madison began as an English surname meaning "son of Matthew" (or "son of Maud"). It was originally a male name — President James Madison (1751-1836), the fourth US president, is the most famous male bearer. The city of Madison, Wisconsin, is named after him. The name crossed to female usage in the 1980s. Madison was virtually unknown as a female first name until 1984, when the movie "Splash" featured Daryl Hannah as a mermaid who takes the name "Madison" after seeing a Madison Avenue street sign in New York. The film was a hit, and the name rocketed from obscurity to the top 10 by 1997. Madison was the #2 girl name in the US in 2001 and 2002. I find Madison has a sleek, modern quality — the "M" opening is firm, the "d" gives it weight, and the "on" ending gives it a slightly masculine echo. The name has been in the US top 50 for most of the past 25 years. Madison is a female name of English (surname) origin that means "Son of Matthew (or "son of Maud")". Sleek, modern, and approachable. The name sounds friendly. Madisons tend to be confident. US #2 in 2001-2002. Now top 50. Well-known people named Madison include James Madison (US President), Madison (Splash character), Madison (Wisconsin city), Madison (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Madison include Maddison (variant), Madisyn (modern), Madyson (modern), Maddy (nickname).