Madoc
In Welsh folklore, Madoc ab Owain Gwynedd was a Welsh prince who sailed to the Americas in 1170, over 300 years before Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. According to the story, Madoc was a son of Owain Gwynedd who went to sea to flee internecine violence at home. The "Madoc story" evolved from a medieval tradition about a Welsh hero's sea voyage, of which only allusions survive.
Meaning & Origin of Madoc
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In Welsh folklore, Madoc ab Owain Gwynedd was a Welsh prince who sailed to the Americas in 1170, over 300 years before Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. According to the story, Madoc was a son of Owain Gwynedd who went to sea to flee internecine violence at home. The "Madoc story" evolved from a medieval tradition about a Welsh hero's sea voyage, of which only allusions survive.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Madoc
Madoc first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2003, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2016, when 23 Madocs were born — ranking #4,325 that year. As of 2026, Madoc ranks #9,864 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 217 Madocs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Madoc
Phonetically similar names — useful when Madoc is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Madoc
What does the name Madoc mean?
How popular is Madoc in 2026?
When was Madoc most popular?
In which U.S. states is Madoc most popular?
Is Madoc a unisex name?
What names go well with Madoc?
About the name Madoc
Madoc is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2003 and has accumulated 217 births in the dataset. Madoc's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #4,325. Use the chart and map above to compare Madoc's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2016 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.