Given name & surname
Addison
“daughter of Adam”·“the son of Adam”
Addison is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of Adam” (English) and “the son of Adam” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “daughter of Adam” (English) and “the son of Adam” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English usage, Addison is a diminutive of Adam. In Scots usage, Addison as a surname is a diminutive of Adamson.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Addison is a diminutive of Adam. The history of Adam gives this family its wider story. Adam has a place in biblical naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Addison through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 162,320
- 13,427 boys · 148,893 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 12,290 babies
- 2025
- 3,033
- #84 for girls · #2,259 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 2% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,971 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 84 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 30.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 11,949 in 2007. It also appeared in 62 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (277). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 128,866 as a first name in 2020; 17,465 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Addison’s family of names
In English usage, Addison is a diminutive of Adam. Addison has a related form in Addyson. In English usage, Addison has a diminutive in Addie.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Addison has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 15
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Addison
- Mitch McConnellAmerican politician and lawyer (born 1942)
- Addison RaeAmerican singer (born 2000)
- Addison TimlinAmerican actressborn 1991
- Mort WalkerAmerican comic strip cartoonist (1923–2018)
- Addison Emery VerrillU.S. zoologist (1839–1926)
- Addison BrownUnited States federal judge, astronomer and botanist (1830-1913)
- Addison RichardsAmerican actor (1902–1964)
- Addison RieckeAmerican actress and model (born 2004)
- Addison MiznerAmerican architect (1872–1933)
Characters named Addison: Addison Montgomery (fictional character on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Addison, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Madison
“daughter'of a mighty warrior” · “son of a mighty warrior”
1% boys · 99% girls
Elisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Sadie
“princess; lady” · “princess”
>99% girls
Bailey
Bailey is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the courtyard within castle walls; a public official.”
6% boys · 94% girls
Eden
“place of pleasure”
21% boys · 79% girls
Hadley
“from the field of heather” · “from the heather meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Ainsley
“one's own meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Michaela
“who is like God?” · “brook”
>99% girls