Madison is a charming and popular first name for girls, originated from the United States. It has gained worldwide recognition in recent years due to its appealing sound and meaning. The name Madison comes from an English surname that is derived from the Old English word 'mad', which means 'wide or broad', and 'ford', referring to a shallow place where water flows across land.
The name Madison was initially used as a male given name, but it gained popularity as a female given name in the late 20th century. It was popularized by several celebrities choosing this name for their daughters, such as actresses Madonna and Alyssa Milano, and singer Mariah Carey.
Madison is often associated with intelligence, creativity, and ambition. The name has been popular among parents who wish to give their daughters a strong and independent name that reflects their unique qualities. It is also often chosen for its timeless appeal and its ability to pair well with many different middle names.
Today, Madison is considered a classic yet modern name that continues to be favored by parents around the world. It is particularly popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Madison has consistently ranked among the top 10 most popular names for girls in the United States since 2000.
In conclusion, Madison is a beautiful and meaningful name with an interesting history. Its popularity can be attributed to its appealing sound, strong meaning, and association with intelligence and ambition. It is a versatile name that works well for many different personality types and continues to be a favorite among parents today.
The name Madison has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. Originally quite rare, with only six births recorded in both 1970 and 1971, it began to gain traction in the mid-1980s.
In 1984, there were 42 births with the name Madison, more than doubling each year until reaching 301 births in 1985. The following year saw a significant leap to 647 births, indicating that Madison was beginning to gain widespread acceptance as a popular girls' name.
This trend continued throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. By 1993, there were over 4,000 newborn girls named Madison, and this number more than doubled again by 1996 to reach over 13,000 births.
The peak popularity of the name Madison came in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1998 alone, there were nearly 18,000 newborn girls named Madison, with this number increasing slightly to just over 19,000 births in 2000.
However, since then, the popularity of the name Madison has steadily declined. By 2010, there were only around 12,500 births recorded, and this number continued to fall each year until reaching a low of just over 5,000 births in both 2021 and 2022.
Overall, the name Madison has been given to approximately 410,000 newborn girls in the United States since records began. While it remains relatively popular today, its heyday was undoubtedly during the late 1990s and early 2000s when it topped the charts as one of the most popular girls' names in America.