Madison (name)
Encyclopedia
Originally, Madison, commonly spelled Maddison (with a double 'd') in Northeastern England
, was only used as a surname
, a variant of Mathieson
meaning son of Matthew
, although possibly occasionally standing for son of Maddy
, where Maddy is a pet form of Maud
.
Madison has become a rather popular female given name
in the United States
. According to the Social Security Administration
's statistics, from a practically non-existent girl's name before 1985, Madison rose to being the second most popular name, after Emily
, given to female babies in 2001. This phenomenal rise in popularity has been attributed to the 1984 movie Splash
, where Daryl Hannah
plays a mermaid
who adopts the name "Madison" in her human form after seeing a street sign for Madison Avenue. When she makes this selection, Tom Hanks
's character initially protests: "But Madison isn't a name!"
The name has begun to see a decline in popularity in the past few years, slipping to #7 by 2009.
Madison is also a male given name. According to the Social Security Administration
, Madison can be found within the top 1,000 names for boys up until about 1952. Madison returned to the top 1,000 ranked boy's names in 1987, remaining there through 1999, and it also was the 858th most common boys' name in 2004, but it remains uncommon as a male given name in the United States.
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, was only used as a surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
, a variant of Mathieson
Mathieson
Mathieson is a surname and may apply to the following:*Colin Mathieson, Scottish cartoonist*Craig Mathieson , Australian writer*David Mathieson , Scottish footballer*Jean Mathieson, Canadian animator...
meaning son of Matthew
Matthew
Matthew may refer to:* Matthew , the given name* Matthew * Matthew , the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 from Bristol to North America* Matthew , an album by rapper Kool KeithIn Christianity:...
, although possibly occasionally standing for son of Maddy
Maddy
Maddy or Maddie is a shortened form of the name Madeleine, Madeline, Madalena, Madelaine, Madison, Maddison or Madhur.It may refer to:People:* Maddie Blaustein , voice actor* Maddy Crippen , American former medley swimmer...
, where Maddy is a pet form of Maud
Maud (name)
Maud , is an Old German feminine given name meaning "powerful battler". It's a variant of the given name Matilda, and it's uncommon as a surname....
.
Madison has become a rather popular female given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
's statistics, from a practically non-existent girl's name before 1985, Madison rose to being the second most popular name, after Emily
Emily (given name)
Emily is a feminine name derived from the Roman feminine name Aemilia. The Latin name Aemilia in turn may derive from the Latin word aemulus , meaning "rival", but this may be a folk etymology....
, given to female babies in 2001. This phenomenal rise in popularity has been attributed to the 1984 movie Splash
Splash (film)
Splash is a 1984 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard and written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge...
, where Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
plays a mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
who adopts the name "Madison" in her human form after seeing a street sign for Madison Avenue. When she makes this selection, Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
's character initially protests: "But Madison isn't a name!"
The name has begun to see a decline in popularity in the past few years, slipping to #7 by 2009.
Madison is also a male given name. According to the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
, Madison can be found within the top 1,000 names for boys up until about 1952. Madison returned to the top 1,000 ranked boy's names in 1987, remaining there through 1999, and it also was the 858th most common boys' name in 2004, but it remains uncommon as a male given name in the United States.
Surname
- James MadisonJames MadisonJames Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, fourth President of the United States - Dolley MadisonDolley MadisonDolley Payne Todd Madison was the spouse of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, and was First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817...
, the wife of James Madison - George MadisonGeorge MadisonGeorge Madison was the sixth Governor of Kentucky. He was the first governor of Kentucky to die in office, serving only a few weeks in 1816. Little is known of Madison's early life. He was a member of the influential Madison family of Virginia, and was a second cousin to President James Madison...
, the Governor of Kentucky - Guy MadisonGuy MadisonGuy Madison was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Robert Ozell Moseley in Pumpkin Center, California, Madison attended Bakersfield College, a junior college, for two years and then worked briefly as a telephone lineman before joining the United States Coast Guard in...
, an actor - Helene MadisonHelene MadisonHelene Madison was an American swimmer. She won three gold medals in freestyle at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games, becoming, along with Romeo Neri of Italy, the most successful athlete there. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin.In sixteen months in 1930 and 1931, she broke sixteen world records in...
, a swimmer - Holly MadisonHolly MadisonHollin Sue Cullen, professionally known as Holly Madison, is an American model, showgirl and television personality. She is widely known for being one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality television series The Girls Next Door...
, an American model - James Madison (bishop), the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, the eighth president of the College of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryThe College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, a cousin of the President of the United States (James Madison) - James G. Madison, known as the Mad Hatter (bank robber)Mad Hatter (Bank Robber)James Madison was the Mad Hatter who robbed 17 banks while wearing a variety of hats. He was apprehended on July 17, 2007 in Newark, New Jersey, shortly after police tracked his license plates. His modus operandi was to wear a different hat for each robbery.-References:...
, a convicted bank robber in New Jersey - James Jonas MadisonJames Jonas MadisonCommander James Jonas Madison was an officer in the United States Navy and a World War I recipient of the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
, a U.S. Navy commander - James Madison, Sr.James Madison, Sr.James Madison, Sr. was a prominent Virginia planter and the owner of Montpelier, a large tobacco plantation in Orange County, Virginia. He was father to U.S. President James Madison who also owned and lived at Montpelier.-Biography:James Madison, Sr, was the son of Ambrose Madison and his wife...
, the father of the American President - Joe MadisonJoe MadisonJoe Madison, alternatively known as "The Black Eagle" or "Madison," is an American radio talk show host and activist.-Early years:...
, a political activist - Kelly MadisonKelly MadisonKelly Madison is an American pornographic actress, director, producer, and Internet pornography entrepreneur. Madison runs a production company, 413 Productions, with her husband Ryan.-Career:...
, a pornographic film actress - Lucy Foster Madison, a United States novelist (See )
- Martha MadisonMartha MadisonMartha Madison is an American actress.- Life and career :Madison was born in Newport News, Virginia...
, an actress - Sam MadisonSam MadisonSamuel Adolfus Madison, Jr. is an American football cornerback who is retired. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville....
, an American football player - Talia Madison, an alternate ring name of American professional wrestler Jamie Szantyr (born 1981), best known as Velvet SkyVelvet SkyJamie Szantyr is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a former TNA Women's Knockout Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her former Beautiful People partners Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich...
- Tianna MadisonTianna MadisonTianna Madison, born on August 30, 1985, in Elyria, Ohio, is a female track and field athlete from the United States of America who competes the long jump and the 100 meter dash...
, an American athlete
Male
- George Madison AdamsGeorge Madison AdamsGeorge Madison Adams was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, nephew of Green Adams.Born in Barbourville, Kentucky, Adams received private instruction from his father and studied law at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky....
(1837/1920), U.S. representative from Kentucky - Frederick Madison AllenFrederick Madison AllenFrederick Madison Allen was a doctor who is perhaps best remembered today for his work on a diet for sufferers of diabetes mellitus. Born in Iowa, he later studied medicine in California, after which time he was employed in a poorly paid position at Harvard University, before his work in New...
(1879/1964), doctor - Madison Smartt BellMadison Smartt BellMadison Smartt Bell is an American novelist. He was raised Nashville, and lived in New York, and London before settling in Baltimore, Maryland....
(1957/), novelist - Madison BumgarnerMadison BumgarnerMadison Bumgarner is an American baseball pitcher with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" and 225 pounds and has a 90–95 MPH fastball...
(1989/), Major League Baseball pitcher - James Madison CarpenterJames Madison CarpenterJames Madison Carpenter, born in Blacklands, Mississippi in 1888, was a Methodist minister and scholar of American and British folklore. He received his bachelor and masters of arts degrees from the University of Mississippi, and a PhD from Harvard in 1929. He is most known for his substantial...
(1888/1983), Methodist minister, scholar - Madison CaweinMadison CaweinMadison Cawein was a poet from Louisville, Kentucky.-Biography:Madison Julius Cawein was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 23, 1865, the fifth child of William and Christiana Cawein. His father made patent medicines from herbs...
(1865/1914), poet - Madison CooperMadison CooperMadison Alexander Cooper, Jr., was an American businessman and philanthropist from Waco, Texas, and is best remembered for his long novel Sironia, Texas , which made publishing history at that time as the longest novel in English originally published in book form, at an estimated 1.1 million...
(1894/1956), American businessman - Clarence Madison DallyClarence Madison DallyClarence Madison Dally was an American glassblower, noted as an assistant to Thomas Edison in his work on X-rays and as an early victim of radiation dermatitis and its complications.- Early life and education :...
(1865/1904), American glassblower - James Madison DeWolfJames Madison DeWolfDr. James Madison DeWolf was an acting assistant surgeon in the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment who was killed in the Battle of the Little Big Horn....
(1843/1876), surgeon - Madison GrantMadison GrantMadison Grant was an American lawyer, historian and physical anthropologist, known primarily for his work as a eugenicist and conservationist...
(1865/1937), lawyer, eugenicist, and conservationist - Madison HedgecockMadison HedgecockMadison Smith Hedgecock is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina....
(1981/), American football player - Madison HemingsMadison HemingsMadison Hemings, born James Madison Hemings , was born into slavery as the son of the mixed-race slave Sally Hemings; he was freed after the death of his master Thomas Jefferson. Based on historical evidence, most historians believe that Jefferson, United States president, was his father...
(1805/1877), son of Thomas Jefferson's slave/mistress Sally Hemings - James Madison HughesJames Madison HughesJames Madison Hughes was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Hughes received a liberal schooling.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar and practiced in Liberty, Missouri....
(1809/1861), U.S. representative from Missouri - Madison JonesMadison JonesMadison Percy Jones is a novelist, born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1925. He has published almost a dozen novels, and is considered "one of the major figures of contemporary southern letters".-Biography:...
(1925/), author - Omer Madison KemOmer Madison KemOmer Madison Kem was a Nebraska Populist politician.Kem was born in Hagerstown, Indiana. He moved to Custer County, Nebraska in 1882 and to Broken Bow, Nebraska in 1890 where he farmed. He was deputy treasurer of Custer County from 1890 to 1891...
(1855/1942), Nebraska Populist politician - James Madison LeachJames Madison LeachJames Madison Leach was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.Leach was born on his the family homestead, “Lansdowne”, in Randolph County, North Carolina, January 17, 1815. He attended the common schools and Caldwell Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina. He graduated from the United...
(1815/1891), U.S. representative from North Carolina - James Madison Morton, Jr.James Madison Morton, Jr.James Madison Morton Jr. was a longtime United States federal judge.Morton was born and lived throughout his life in Fall River, Massachusetts. Morton was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1891, followed by an A.M. from that institution in 1894, and an...
(1869/1940), American federal judge - James Madison PendletonJames Madison PendletonJames Madison Pendleton was a leading 19th century Baptist preacher, educator and theologian.-Early life:James Madison Pendleton was born November 20, 1811, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the son of John Pendleton and Frances Jackson Thompson. He was named for President James Madison. When he...
(1811/1891), Baptist preacher, educator, and theologian - Madison S. PerryMadison S. PerryMadison Starke Perry was the fourth Governor of Florida.-Early life:Madison Starke Perry was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina, the youngest child of Benjamin Perry and his wife Mary Starke. He came to Florida in 1845 and helped found the village of Rochelle, Florida in Alachua County...
(1814/1865), fourth governor of Florida - James Madison PorterJames Madison PorterJames Madison Porter , a Pennsylvanian, was the 18th United States Secretary of War and a founder of Lafayette College....
(1793/1862), United States Secretary of War - Frederick Madison RobertsFrederick Madison RobertsFrederick Madison Roberts was an American newspaper owner and editor, educator and business owner who was the first known man of African American descent elected to the California State Assembly...
(1879/1952), mortician - James Madison RobertsonJames Madison RobertsonJames Madison Robertson was an artillery officer in the United States Army who commanded the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(/1891), artillery officer in the United States Army - Frederick Madison SmithFrederick Madison SmithFrederick Madison Smith , generally known among his followers as "Freddie M.", was an American religious leader and author and the third Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , serving from 1915 until his death.Smith's paternal grandfather was Joseph Smith,...
(1874/1946), American religious leader and author - Madison WashingtonMadison WashingtonMadison Washington was the instigator of a slave revolt on board the brig Creole in 1841. This slave ship was transporting Washington, the ship's slave cook, as well as 134 other slaves from Virginia to New Orleans.On the night of Nov...
(circa 19th century), instigator of slave revolt - James Madison WellsJames Madison WellsJames Madison Wells was elected the 20th Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction.-Early life:Born near Alexandria, Louisiana, on January 8, 1808, Wells' father was Samuel Levi Wells, II, a member of the constitutional convention in 1811. His mother was the former Dorcas Huie. A brother, Thomas...
(1808/1899), governor of Louisiana - William Madison WhittingtonWilliam Madison WhittingtonWilliam Madison Whittington was a Democratic politician from Mississippi. Whittington was a Representative to the 69th United States Congress in 1925, and the twelve succeeding Congresses ....
(1878/1962), Democratic politician from Mississippi - William Madison WoodWilliam Madison WoodWilliam M. Wood was a textile mill owner of Lawrence, Massachusetts who was considered to be an expert in efficiency. He made a good deal of his fortune through being hired by mill owners to turn around failing mills and was disliked by organized labor.- Early life :William Wood was born in 1858...
(1858/1926), mill owner
Fictional
- Madison JeffriesMadison JeffriesMadison Jeffries is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the . He first appears in Alpha Flight #16 and was created by John Byrne.- Publication history :...
, comic book character in Alpha Flight - Madison "Mad" Twatter, minor character, played by Stephen Walters in BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dramaDramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television seriesTelevision programA television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
SkinsSkins (TV series)Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
.
Female
- Madison (wrestler)Madison (wrestler)Madison is a Canadian professional wrestler who got her start in NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling out of Vancouver.-Early life:...
, stage name, (debut 2001) - Madison BrowneMadison BrowneMadison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
, Australian international netball player - Madison Cross (born 1992), singer/actress
- Madison DavenportMadison DavenportMadison Danielle Davenport is an American teen actress and singer, best known for her role as Quillo in Over the Hedge. Davenport has also starred in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl as Kit's best friend Ruthie Smithens....
(born 1996), American actress and singer - Madison De La GarzaMadison De La GarzaMadison Rose De La Garza is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Juanita Solis on Desperate Housewives.-Biography:Madison De La Garza was born to Eddie De La Garza and Dianna Bonheur Hart De La Garza...
, child actress, younger sister of Demi Lovato - Madison HubbellMadison HubbellMadison L. Hubbell is an American ice dancer. She competed with her brother Keiffer Hubbell from 2001 to 2011. They are the 2010 Four Continents bronze medalists, two-time U.S. pewter medalists and 2006-2007 Junior Grand Prix Final champions. She currently skates with Zachary Donohue.- Personal...
(born 1991), American ice dancer - Madison IvyMadison IvyMadison Ivy is a German-born American pornographic actress and model.Ivy was born in Germany, raised in Texas, and lived in Sacramento, California...
(Born 1989), American porn star - Madison McReynoldsMadison McReynoldsMadison McReynolds is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her role as Lindsey Willows, daughter of Catherine Willows in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from seasons 1-5. Her role was taken over by Kay Panabaker in season 6...
(born 1993), American actress - J. Madison Wright MorrisJ. Madison Wright MorrisJessica Madison Wright was an American actress. Born in Cincinnati, she spent her early years being raised in London, Laurel County, Kentucky.-Early life:...
(1984–2006), American actress - Madison NguyenMadison NguyenMadison Phuong Nguyen is an American politician from California. She has served on the San Jose, California, City Council since September 2005, representing District 7; she was the first Vietnamese American elected to the council.-Early life:...
, American politician - Madison PettisMadison PettisMadison Michelle Pettis is an American teen actress, best known for playing Sophie Martinez on the Disney Channel sitcom Cory in the House and as Peyton Kelly in the 2007 film The Game Plan.-Life and career:...
(born 1998), American actress - Madison Rayne (born 1986; real name Ashley Simmons), American professional wrestler
- Madison StoneMadison StoneMadison Stone was an American porn star and singer, and is currently a tattoo artist and tattoo shop owner.-Life and career:...
(born 1965), adult film actress, stage name from the late 1980s (often credited simply as "Madison") - Madison YoungMadison YoungMadison Young, born Tina Butcher, is an American pornographic actress, director, published writer, sexual educator and founder of Femina Potens Art Gallery, a nonprofit art gallery and performance space that serves the LGBTQ and Kink communities....
, US porn star
Fictional characters
- Madison, the mermaid in the film SplashSplash (film)Splash is a 1984 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard and written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge...
- Madison Duarte, in the television series South of Nowhere (2005/)
- Madison Sinclair, in the television series Veronica Mars (2004/)
- Madison Taylor, the Cardcaptors name for the Cardcaptor Sakura character Tomoyo Daidouji