Names to Substitute for Madison

Madison

English

"son of Matthew"

Since we wrote a book called Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana , encouraging parents to move beyond overused names, it's no secret what we think of this trendy surname name, inspired by a…

Madeline

English variation of Magdalen

"high tower or woman from Magdala"

Madeline, a lovely name with a soft and delicate image, is an old-fashioned favorite that returned to favor in the 1990s, combining a classic pedigree with a cute nickname option: Maddie. Madeline…

Addison

English surname

"son of Adam"

Newly fashioned but familiar and with an on-trend, unisex feel, Addison seems like the perfect solution for anyone who can't decide between Madison, Adeline, and Alison. Addison really took off in…

Emerson

English

"son of Emery"

The combination of Emily and Emma's popularity -- and the fact that Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher's daughter is named Emerson -- have put this formerly strictly boys’ name , embodying the…

Maisie

Scottish diminutive of Margaret, Mairead, or Mary, English, Latin, Hebrew

"pearl; bitter, beloved, drop of the seas"

Sweet and sparky, youthful yet long-established, this Scottish nickname for Margaret, Mairead, or Mary, entered the US Top 1000 back in 2014 and has been on the rise ever since, replacing the once…

Murphy

Irish

"sea warrior"

This surname name was popularized for girls in the 80s and 90s by TV's Murphy Brown and it maintains that cool breezy energy today, while also having an appealing sea-related meaning. Ultimately…

London

English place-name

"Capital city of England"

The capital of England makes a solid and attractive twenty-first-century choice in the US where it is currently in the Top 1000. Given to nearly 1000 girls and 200 boys each year, it is a unisex…

Cameron

Scottish

"crooked nose"

Cameron was once a rising star for boys only, but Cameron Diaz almost single-handedly transported it into the unisex camp back in the 80s.Though there are still eight times as many boy babies named…

Ellison

English

"son of Ellis"

Updates Allison—which everyone will misunderstand it as. But it's definitely a fresh spin on the Ellie names, and a rising surname name choice for girls. Ellison made its first appearance on the US…

Indiana

American place-name

"land of the Indians"

Indiana is one of those place-names (think Camden and Trenton) that sounds cooler than the place that inspired it. Its fashionable -ana ending certainly sounds eminently name-like, and…

Sullivan

Irish

"dark eyes"

Stylish and boyish but could work for a girl -- especially one with brown eyes -- and Sully is a quirky and jaunty nickname.

Mason

English occupational name

"stoneworker"

Mason is a supertrendy name for boys that's starting to cross over -- Kelsey Grammer used it for his daughter. Creative speller's delight.

Jameson

English

"son of James"

Stylish surname way to go if you want to name a girl after a James, and is more substantial than the passé Jamie; it was chosen for their daughter by Chynna Phillips and Billy Baldwin.

Madrid

Place name, Spanish, Arabic, Latin

"watercourse, channel; source of the river"

An underused place name with a sunny, stylish air, the capital city of Spain could provide a totally unexpected route to favorite nickname Maddie. While the exact origins of the name are unknown,…

Madigan

Irish

"little dog"

An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.

Andeline

Feminine form of Andrew, Greek, Germanic, Czech

"strong and manly; noble, tender, zeal; angel"

Fresher than Andrea but not so out there as Andrewina, Andeline is a sweet, rare choice, with the familiar sounds of Adeline and Andie. It could be considered a feminine form of Andrew, giving it the…

Merrigan

Irish surname, related to the sea

A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.