Madison
Girl name · #40 in 2025 · Uniqueness 45/100
Madison ranks #40 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 4,945 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #11, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 364 girls born in 2025 was named Madison.
Babies named Madison per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 55-year story
Madison first appears in the Social Security records in 1970, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 22,166 girls were named Madison — good for #2 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Madison against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Madison in class?
Madison scores 45 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Madison is most common
Geography matters for names, and Madison is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Madisons were TX (565), CA (528), NY (370), FL (327), NJ (232). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Madison
Statistically, parents drawn to Madison tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Abigail, Addison, Allison, Madeline, and Madelyn.
AbigailAddisonAllisonMadelineMadelynGraceHannahMaddison
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Madison | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,945 | #40 |
| 2024 | 4,581 | #45 |
| 2023 | 5,179 | #37 |
| 2022 | 5,507 | #34 |
| 2021 | 5,964 | #29 |
| 2020 | 6,253 | #23 |
| 2019 | 6,304 | #26 |
| 2018 | 7,103 | #22 |
| 2017 | 7,910 | #17 |
| 2016 | 9,057 | #15 |
| 2015 | 10,107 | #11 |
| 2014 | 10,333 | #9 |
| 2013 | 10,605 | #9 |
| 2012 | 11,417 | #9 |
| 2011 | 12,406 | #8 |
| 2010 | 13,196 | #8 |
| 2009 | 15,257 | #7 |
| 2008 | 17,047 | #6 |
| 2007 | 17,968 | #5 |
| 2006 | 18,635 | #3 |
| 2005 | 19,578 | #3 |
| 2004 | 20,628 | #3 |
| 2003 | 20,201 | #3 |
| 2002 | 21,774 | #2 |
| 2001 | 22,166 | #2 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Madison a popular girl name?
Madison ranked #40 among girls in 2025 with 4,945 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #11.
When was the name Madison most popular?
Madison peaked in 2001, when 22,166 American girls received the name (ranked #2 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Madison?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 364 newborn American girls was named Madison. It scores 45/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.