Names are special and important because they are how we come to be known in the world.
They are our first identity, our first title, and the meaning we carry with us. So choosing names for our children can be a sacred and very thoughtful process!
When choosing your child’s first and middle name, you want to choose names that you and your child will be happy with for the rest of their lives.
There are many facets to consider when choosing a middle name for your child. One of the most important elements is finding a name that pairs well with your child’s first name.
Ending with -ax, Maddox is a strong name choice for your baby boy. A soft middle name will balance out the first name nicely. But whether you want a traditional, classic name or a modern, unique one will determine which names will be your favorite.
Tools like syllable balance and cadence, which we’ll discuss below, can be used to inspire a great middle name for Maddox!
Meaning of Name ‘Maddox’:
Maddox is a Welsh name originally meaning “son of Madoc.” Madoc is a Welsh legend about a prince who sailed to America long before Christopher Columbus, ideally to escape violence and poverty and make a new life. Maddox means fortunate, beneficent, or good.
Maddox is also a popular name in Ireland, Scotland, and England. Though it appears as a unisex name, Maddox is most popular for baby boys. In 2018, it was the 109th most popular name for boys in the United States.
Famous People Named Maddox
Maddox Jolie-Pitt – son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Maddox Ryder – character on Sons of Anarchy
Maddox Abbott – character on Grey’s Anatomy
Maddox Lahey – character on Trailer Park Boys
Choosing the Best Middle Name for Maddox
If you’re looking for a popular name for your son, Maddox is a great option. It’s also a terrific way to honor Welsh heritage or tradition.
Whether you want to choose a traditional name like David or William, or something more unique like Ryder or Abbott, there’s a middle name out there that’s perfect for your Maddox.
Let’s discuss some sources of inspiration and beloved middle name ideas for Maddox.
Family Ties
What is your family’s ancestral background? Which countries did they travel from and what are their stories? A middle name is a fantastic way to honor loved ones, particularly if the name is derived from their culture (much like Maddox).
William was passed on for generations in both my family and my husband’s family. My dad and my grandfather both carried the middle name William, as did my husband and his father. Before that, their father and grandfathers had borne the name.
When I looked into our family tree, I saw many other names that I loved. If you were to ask family members or look back through your family’s heritage, what names would you find?
Are there any that would make a great middle name for Maddox?
Special Places
Which places carry personal significance for you or your partner? Is there a vacation spot, park, street name, or city that has engraved itself on your heart?
My friend was an au pair in London for five years before meeting her husband. She fell in love with the city and thought she might never leave. But when she and her husband were expecting their first baby, they moved back home to Canada to be near family. She knew that London may only be a place she would visit from time to time, but still it left a lasting impression on her. When her little girl was born, she gave her the middle name London to always remember her time there.
Boy names inspired by places around us include Knox, Nash, Harvey, Warner, Warren, Jude, Grey, Cody, Jefferson, Monroe, and Jost. What about your community or town? Are there places that could make for a great middle name?
Celebrity Names
Are you a fan of someone famous? Maybe it’s a celebrity, or maybe it’s a great leader who has inspired countless people towards a great cause. Do you have a favorite author or poet? How about a TV show or series?
Whether you choose their real name or on-screen name, celebrity names can be a surprising source of inspiration for cool and memorable baby names.
There are classic names like Tom, Jake, Stephen, and Robert, or new-age names like Zane, Malik, and Rhys. One way to spot celebrity names is to read the credits that roll at the end of a show or movie!
Nature Inspired
When I was naming my boys, it didn’t occur to me that nature holds its very own beautiful names!
There’s River, Skye, Snow, Stone, Cedar, Oak, Blaze, Cliff, Ash, Everest, and Wolfe. Middle names inspired by nature have a certain convalescent energy to them.
They are unique in their own right while also giving voice to the timeless beauty of the earth (and the galaxy)! Some space inspired names include Astro, Venus, Orion, Star, Jet, or Mars.
There may also be a park, preservation site, or hiking trail that speaks to you in terms of a middle name.
Favorite Books or Shows
Did you have a favorite book as a child? Are there any character names that were particularly memorable to you?
The name Clark will forever make me think of Superman. I’ve always liked the name Noah, but after watching The Notebook (Ryan Gosling plays Noah), the deal was sealed. There’s Lawrence from the beloved book Little Women or Skyler from the hit TV series Breaking Bad.
What are your favorite books and shows? What names among the characters and writers stand out to you?
Syllable Balance
We’ve now considered sources of inspiration, but what about tools to help us choose a middle name that sounds best with our last name?
Depending on the length of your last name, a short or long middle name would sound best. If your last name is one syllable, then choosing a name with two or more syllables may sound best. My name has a syllable ratio of 3:2:1, and while it’s not the most original name (my name was one of the top 10 most popular names for girls born in the 80s), it does flow well with my middle and last name thanks to syllable balance.
A name with too many syllables is challenging to remember and hard to say. A name with too few syllables can sound short and terse. There’s no perfect pattern, but a balance enough to help the names flow can create a name you love.
Cadence
Part of the reason we consider balancing syllables is to create cadence, which simply refers to a name’s rhythm or flow. Cadence is most commonly a musical term, but it can be just as handy with names!
Cadence may include elements such as alliteration (Hudson Hart) or double names (Mary Kate), in addition to syllable balance.
Nicknames
Another factor to consider is what nicknames your child may be given. Are there middle names that you would like him to have? Or what is the likelihood that family members or friends will come up with a nickname? There are some cute nicknames for Maddox, such as Maddo, Maddy, Max, or Madz.
MJ is also a pretty cool nick name for Maddox if you choose a middle name starting with J!
Best Middle Names for Maddox
Maddox Abram
Maddox Alden
Maddox Alexander
Maddox Alto
Maddox Amory
Maddox Andrew
Maddox Anthony
Maddox Archer
Maddox Arlo
Maddox Asher
Maddox Atticus
Maddox Banjo
Maddox Beach
Maddox Beale
Maddox Beckett
Maddox Benjamin
Maddox Birch
Maddox Blaine
Maddox Blaise
Maddox Blake
Maddox Brady
Maddox Branson
Maddox Brody
Maddox Brooks
Maddox Bryce
Maddox Calloway
Maddox Carson
Maddox Carter
Maddox Cash
Maddox Cedar
Maddox Charles
Maddox Chase
Maddox Christopher
Maddox Cole
Maddox Cooper
Maddox Cruz
Maddox Culley
Maddox David
Maddox Dean
Maddox Dominic
Maddox Drew
Maddox Dylan
Maddox Eames
Maddox Edward
Maddox Elliot
Maddox Emerson
Maddox Emory
Maddox Everett
Maddox Finlay
Maddox Finn
Maddox Gabriel
Maddox Gardner
Maddox Grady
Maddox Grant
Maddox Grayson
Maddox Greer
Maddox Gregory
Maddox Grey
Maddox Griffin
Maddox Harbor
Maddox Hayden
Maddox Hayes
Maddox Heath
Maddox Henry
Maddox Holt
Maddox Hudson
Maddox Hugh
Maddox Issac
Maddox Jace
Maddox Jade
Maddox James
Maddox Jameson
Maddox Jay
Maddox Jensen
Maddox Jett
Maddox Joel
Maddox John
Maddox Jonah
Maddox Jonathan
Maddox Joel
Maddox Jost
Maddox Jude
Maddox Julian
Maddox Kane
Maddox Kaylen
Maddox Keaton
Maddox Keegan
Maddox Keir
Maddox Kellan
Maddox King
Maddox Lance
Maddox Lane
Maddox Lawrence
Maddox Leone
Maddox Levi
Maddox Lincoln
Maddox Luke
Maddox Lyle
Maddox Nash
Maddox Nathaniel
Maddox Nicholas
Maddox Nico
Maddox Nigel
Maddox Nolan
Maddox Oakley
Maddox Oliver
Maddox Orion
Maddox Parker
Maddox Pierce
Maddox Pierre
Maddox Piper
Maddox Porter
Maddox Pratt
Maddox Quinn
Maddox Rain
Maddox Ray
Maddox Reid
Maddox Rhett
Maddox Rhodes
Maddox Rhys
Maddox Ridge
Maddox Riley
Maddox River
Maddox Roman
Maddox Ronen
Maddox Ross
Maddox Rowan
Maddox Ryder
Maddox Ryland
Maddox Sage
Maddox Sawyer
Maddox Sebastian
Maddox Silas
Maddox Soren
Maddox Stone
Maddox Sullivan
Maddox Tate
Maddox Thayer
Maddox Theodore
Maddox Timothy
Maddox Tobias
Maddox Tristan
Maddox Tucker
Maddox Tyler
Maddox Vance
Maddox Vaughn
Maddox Vincent
Maddox Walden
Maddox Walker
Maddox Warren
Maddox Whitman
Maddox Wilder
Maddox William
Maddox Wolfe
Maddox Zane
Final Thoughts
Maddox is a strong and unique name for your little guy. Whatever middle name you choose to go with Maddox, may he be all the things his name implies – good, kind, and fortunate! We wish you all the best on your parenting journey and hope this article has inspired a great middle name choice for you.
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All material provided on this website is for your information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult with a medical professional regarding any matters related to the health and well-being of yourself or others. The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate based on my best judgement. Readers who fail to consult with a medical professional assume the risk of any injuries.
