Aubrey
Aubrey is a unisex name of French origin meaning “elf ruler, supernatural power.” It ranked #146 in the United States in 2025. A Norman French form of the Germanic name Alberic, composed of elements meaning 'elf' and 'ruler.'
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how do you pronounce Aubrey?
AW-bree
where does the name Aubrey come from?
From the Norman French Auberi, descended from the Germanic Alberich — alb, meaning elf, and ric, meaning power or ruler. It is the same underlying name as Avery, which took a different path through Norman French to arrive at a different modern form.
In medieval Germanic tradition, Alberich was the king of the dwarves who guarded a great hoard of treasure, connecting the name to myth and magic.
how popular is this name?
Aubrey has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 53 years since 1973. It peaked at #15 in 2012, and ranked #146 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #146 |
| 2024 | #132 |
| 2023 | #101 |
| 2022 | #81 |
| 2021 | #64 |
| 2020 | #56 |
| 2019 | #46 |
| 2018 | #37 |
| 2017 | #31 |
| 2016 | #25 |
| 2012 | #15 |
| 2010 | #45 |
| 2000 | #223 |
| 1990 | #298 |
| 1980 | #446 |
| 1973 | #882 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Aubrey fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Aubrey
Aubrey Beardsley's black-and-white illustrations defined the visual style of the 1890s before his death at twenty-five. The name was masculine in England for most of its history, and its shift to predominantly feminine use in the United States happened rapidly in the 1970s, helped by the Bread song Aubrey in 1972.
who are famous people named Aubrey?
- Aubrey Plaza (actress)
- Aubrey Graham known as Drake (rapper)
- Aubrey Beardsley (illustrator)
what are the nicknames and variants of Aubrey?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Aubrey?
what names go well with Aubrey?
Sibling names that share Aubrey's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Aubrey
What does the name Aubrey mean?
Aubrey means “elf ruler, supernatural power”.
What is the origin of the name Aubrey?
Aubrey comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Aubree, Aubrie and Auberon.
How popular is the name Aubrey?
Aubrey ranked #146 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2012, at #15, and it has spent 53 years in the top 1,000 since 1973.
Is Aubrey a boy or girl name?
Aubrey is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Aubrey?
Aubrey is pronounced AW-bree, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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