What does Addison mean?
Addison means “son of Adam.” It comes from an English surname, with the final son preserving the family relationship in its original meaning. Adam is the biblical name from the Hebrew word for “man,” familiar through the story of the first human in Genesis.
As a given name, Addison has been used for both boys and girls. Its American history includes older masculine use and a much larger modern wave for girls. The three-syllable form has also become familiar through the short names Addie and Addy.
A surname with a biblical root
Addison belongs to the tradition of English surnames formed from a father's personal name. The relationship with Adam is historical, even though the sound changes considerably between the two modern names.
The first name keeps the surname's full shape. Its opening Add is followed by two lighter syllables, giving it a rhythm similar to other longer surname names used in English. Its resemblance to Madison helped make it familiar as a modern feminine choice, while the underlying surname has its own separate history.
Addisyn and Addyson are established spelling alternatives. Addie and Addy draw directly on the opening sound and provide shorter everyday forms.
Addison Mizner and architecture
Architect Addison Mizner gives the name an important connection with the built environment of Palm Beach, Florida. He arrived there in January 1918 and designed the Everglades Club for Paris Singer.
The building had first been planned as a convalescent club during the First World War. After the war ended, it opened as a private club in January 1919. Its design helped create demand for Mizner's work and for the mixture of architectural influences associated with Palm Beach's Mediterranean Revival style.
Mizner's career makes Addison visible in the history of American architecture, especially in buildings shaped by Spanish and Mediterranean precedents. It also provides a substantial masculine bearer from long before the name's recent American popularity for girls.
Addison Montgomery on television
A prominent fictional bearer is Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh in Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. The character is a surgeon specializing in neonatal care.
Private Practice follows her move from Seattle to a new professional and personal life in Los Angeles. The medical group setting brings her into stories about difficult cases, working relationships, and the challenges of starting again in another city.
The character made Addison recognizable as a woman's first name on television during the period of its rapid American rise. Her professional identity gives the association a particular setting within a long-running medical-drama family.
Pronunciation and familiar forms
Addison is pronounced AD-ih-sun, with stress on the first syllable and the first vowel of apple. Addie and Addy are established nicknames. Adam is the root name, while Addisyn and Addyson are modern spelling relatives.
Addison in the United States
Addison's American girls' peak came in 2007, with 11,949 babies and a rank of No. 11. In 2025 it ranked No. 84. Its best boys' rank was No. 382 in 1883; in 2025 it ranked No. 2,259 for boys.
Sources & methodologyReferences, data & attribution
Meaning and history draw on the references below. American popularity figures use published Social Security Administration records for this exact spelling; counts below five for a name, sex, and year are omitted.
How popular is Addison?
In 2025, Addison ranked #84 among girls in the United States, with 2,971 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for girls in 1980; its largest annual count was 11,949 in 2007. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.