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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Madison?

56 replies

Bluepinkyellowgreenamber · 02/08/2025 10:28

Opinions on the name Madison.
I love it and think it is so classic and elegant. The popularity is putting us off however I feel like it won’t be that common for our little girls generation.

Madison Lilia Bates would be her full name.

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Emanwenym · 02/08/2025 15:37

I love it Then use it.
and think it is so classic and elegant.
It's a surname used as a girl's name, probably from the film Splash!
The mermaid named herself after Madison Avenue, which was named after a president.

I don't particularly like it, don't think it's classic or elegant, and she'll probably be Maddie.

LucasBuck · 02/08/2025 15:32

SilenceOfTheTimTams · 02/08/2025 14:34

Joke thread: Maddy Bates = masturbates

🤣 Of course 🤦‍♀️ I’m too slow today!

LucasBuck · 02/08/2025 15:30

Really not classic. It was “invented” as a given name for the fun 80’s film Splash - the joke was that the mermaid was so uncultured she didn’t realise that Madison Avenue in NY was named after President James Madison - and thus Madison was a surname not a first name. However parents liked the sound of it in the film (it helped that Daryl Hannah was so beautiful!) and so it became a popular 80’s/90’s name, especially in the USA.

If you want a classic name then you need to go for similar but more timeless Madeleine, which has a long history.
However if you don’t care about that, then go for it - just bear in mind the spelling issues of Madison vs Maddison (although to be fair that is the same for a lot of names including Madeleine vs Madeline!).

DappledThings · 02/08/2025 15:24

SilenceOfTheTimTams · 02/08/2025 14:34

Joke thread: Maddy Bates = masturbates

That's quite a stretch. Maddy Bates doesn’t sound anything like masturbates

ginasevern · 02/08/2025 15:18

"Classic and elegant" - really? It's about as classic and elegant as Chardonnay or Tiffany was in the 80's. Footballer's wife springs to mind.

Calliopespa · 02/08/2025 14:51

I wondered but then thought they'd have gone for Maddy Bates.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 02/08/2025 14:42

Very American but I actually like it

sanityisamyth · 02/08/2025 14:42

It’s not elegant or classic. It’s very American.

Mydahliasareshit · 02/08/2025 14:40

Come on you lot, this is a joke thread. Madison Bates?
School holidays...

Calliopespa · 02/08/2025 14:34

Bitzee · 02/08/2025 10:58

I don’t think it’s classic/elegant. It’s more a modern, American vibe I think. Not that that’s a bad thing, I actually think it’s a pretty cool name. But if you want a classic full name and like Maddy as a nickname I’d go with Madeleine over Madison.

This is my view: it's modern American rather than classic.

It's quite an "established" place name in New York, which might be where you feel the classic vibe comes from.

She won't be the only Madison people meet if you call her that, but personally I feel place names or surnames for girls always have a "downmarket" feel: Dylan, Madison, Maddox etc. Even Harper for me belongs in that group.

But some people love them, and if you are one of them you should go with it.

But, since you've posted, I am being honest in saying I definitely don't think classic and elegant when I hear those sorts of names. Maybe cool and "has attitude"?

SilenceOfTheTimTams · 02/08/2025 14:34

Joke thread: Maddy Bates = masturbates

Snorlaxo · 02/08/2025 14:33

If you’re in the Uk then I don’t think it’s elegant at all. Unfortunately it’s popular with the type of parents who like youneek spellings and I usually see it spelt incorrectly.

Snorlaxo · 02/08/2025 14:31

Is Alison son of Al/Alistair?

DappledThings · 02/08/2025 14:28

Neither classic nor elegant. And weird to have "son" in a girl's name.

WednesdaysChild50 · 02/08/2025 14:27

It’s a no from me

RentalWoesNotFun · 02/08/2025 14:25

There’s a dance from 1950s America called The Madison.

whatacroc · 02/08/2025 14:15

MagnificentBastard · 02/08/2025 10:51

Madison is the opposite of ‘classic and elegant’. It’s a chavvy name.

Yes a chavvy name where i am too and there seems to be lots of madison's or often spelt maddison. A shame really as when I first heard it over here, late 90s I actually thought it was quite nice and unusual.

user1492757084 · 02/08/2025 14:12

Not my fave. Madison had it's day in the 1990s.
It's too American for me.

I prefer Alison and Madeleine.

PollyannaNibbs · 02/08/2025 11:11

It's not classic or elegant at all, it was popular (ish) in the 90s when my kids were born but it was considered as a very American name made up for and popularised in an 80s film. I don't care for it personally.

ImAPreMadonna · 02/08/2025 11:07

Nope from me. No classic or elegant. Feels way more low rent. Madeleine is beautiful however.

Charabanc · 02/08/2025 11:04

Personally, with your surname, I wouldn't be choosing any M names at all, especially ones that are spelled M-A- and that have S in them.

Trying saying Madison Bates quickly. Or worse, Maddie Bates (so that rules out Madeleine as well).

Bitzee · 02/08/2025 10:58

I don’t think it’s classic/elegant. It’s more a modern, American vibe I think. Not that that’s a bad thing, I actually think it’s a pretty cool name. But if you want a classic full name and like Maddy as a nickname I’d go with Madeleine over Madison.

BoleynMemories13 · 02/08/2025 10:54

Definitely not classic. It means son of Matthew, so it doesn't feel like it should be a girls name to me (although, by the same token, it would feel odd for a boy given how popular it was for girls in the 00s). It has a very American vibe.

It's nowhere near as popular now as it was 20 years ago.

I much prefer Madeleine personally, if you do actually want something classic and elegant.

MagnificentBastard · 02/08/2025 10:51

Madison is the opposite of ‘classic and elegant’. It’s a chavvy name.

Squirrelsnut · 02/08/2025 10:49

It's a bit clunky and American. Not classic or elegant at all. It sounds 'low rent' to me (sorry!).