Addison Overview
- Meaning: In Old English, Addison means “son of Adam.” In modern times, the name is associated with strength and is considered a wholesome and fun name.
- Gender: Addison is a gender-neutral or unisex name.
- Origin: Addison is an Old English surname. It was a common Scottish surname and means “son of Addie.”
- Pronunciation: “ADD-uh-sin”
- Popularity: Addison is very popular as a feminine name, staying within the top 50 most popular names in recent years.
- Nicknames: Ad, Ada, Addie, Addy, Dia, Edison, Sonny, Sunny.
- Variations: Aatami, Adam, Adamina, Addie, Addy, Addyson, Edison.
- Namesakes: Addison Rae,Addison Richards,Addison Emery Verrill.
What Does Addison Mean?
Addison comes from Old English and originally means “son of Adam.” Although it was created as a surname to indicate a son’s heritage, the name has become a popular gender-neutral name.
The masculine-only meaning of Addison has been largely erased in the United States, where it has become a popular name for boys and girls.
In the modern day, Addison is associated with strength and is considered a wholesome and fun name.
What Is the Origin of the Name Addison?
Addison is an Old English surname. It was a common Scottish surname, as it means “son of Addie.” Addie was a popular nickname for men named Adam in the Scottish Lowlands, a historic area in Scotland (1).
The name Addison is what is known as a patronymic surname. Patronymic means it is based on or comprised of a father, grandfather, or another masculine ancestor’s given name. Many popular masculine names in the world today started as patronymic surnames (2).
Other examples of patronymic surnames are Wilson (son of William) or Johnson (son of John). The sound-alike name for Addison “Madison” is also an example of a patronymic surname as it means son of Matthew.
How Popular Is the Name Addison?
Addison has been a fairly popular name throughout history for boys, but its popularity as a name for girls is quite recent.
As a masculine name, Addison has been pretty popular or somewhat popular as far back as 1880. From 1880 to 1934, the name stayed within the top 1000 most popular names for boys in the United States. In 1935, it fell out of the top 1000 until 1986, when it entered back in at the rank of #514.
The most popular year for Addison as a masculine name was 1990 when it became the 510th most popular name for boys. It is still somewhat popular, though it has fallen out of the top 1000.
Addison’s popularity as a feminine name may not have a long history, but it has exploded in popularity in recent years. 1994 was the first year the name Addison entered the top 1000 most popular names for girls at the rank of #798.
Since 1994, Addison as a feminine name has become very popular. From 2005 to 2006, it jumped from the 106th most popular to the 28th most popular. The most popular years for the feminine name Addison were 2007 and 2010 when it was the 11th most popular name.
In recent years, the name has remained very popular, staying in the top 50 most popular names (3).
How Do I Pronounce Addison?
Addison is pronounced “ADD-uh-sin.” The name rhymes with “Madison” or “Allison.”
Is Addison a Boy or Girl Name?
Addison is a gender-neutral or unisex name. This name started as a masculine name meaning “son of Adam.” Now, the name is popular with any gender.
Variations of Addison
There have been just a few variations on the name Addison over the years.
- Aatami (Finnish)
- Adam (Arabic, English, Dutch, French, Greek, Slovak)
- Adamina (English)
- Addie (English)
- Addy (English)
- Addyson (English)
- Edison (English)
Nicknames for Addison
There are many cute and catchy nicknames for people with the name Addison.
- Ad
- Ada
- Addie
- Addy
- Dia
- Edison
- Sonny
- Sunny
Similar Names to Addison
Many of these similar names to Addison share a surname origin.
- Aiden
- Allison
- Ashton
- Avery
- Bailey
- Blake
- Demi
- Emery
- Madison
- Maude
- Morgan
- Parker
- Riley
- Sidney
- Taylor
Middle Names for Addison
Whether you prefer classic or unique, many middle names fit well with Addison.
- Casey
- Drew
- Jamie
- Jude
- Kai
- Lee
- Noah
- Palmer
- Remy
- River
- Sage
- Salem
- Shay
- Sloane
- Quinn
- Willow
Sibling Names for Addison
Since Addison is a trendy gender-neutral name, these unisex names will work great for a sibling.
- Aubrey
- Briar
- Charlie
- Dakota
- Dallas
- Dylan
- Frankie
- Hayden
- Hollis
- Jesse
- Kyle
- Parker
- Reese
- Robin
- Rory
- Spencer
Famous People Named Addison
Here are some of the most famous people with the name Addison.
- Addison Hutton: American architect prominent in Philadelphia.
- Addison Rae: American social media star.
- Addison Richards: American film and TV actor.
- Addison Timlin: American actress well-known for her role in the TV series “Californication.”
- Addison Emery Verrill: American zoologist, professor, and museum curator.
Addison in Popular Culture
Here are some of the fictional characters who bear the name Addison.
- Addison: a character in the kid’s TV series “The Suite Life on Deck.”
- Addison: a character in the horror movie “Saw II.”
- Addison DeWitt: a character in the movie “All About Eve.”
- Addison Montgomery: a character in the TV series “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Addison FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the name Addison.
What Does Addison Mean in the Bible?
Addison is a masculine name that means “son of Adam.” In the Christian bible, Adam is the first human created, along with either Eve or Lilith, depending on the biblical literature studied.
In the Hebrew Bible, Cain and Abel are the first sons of Adam. In the Christian bible, Seth is the first son of Adam, followed by Cain and Abel.
The name Addison is never used in the bible, although it does hold biblical meaning due to its link to Adam (4).
