Aubrey
/ˈɔb.ɹi/
The name Aubrey derives from the Norman French Aubri, itself a development of the Germanic Alberic, composed of alf meaning “elf” and ric meaning “ruler” or “power.” The literal sense is therefore “elf-ruler,” drawing on the Germanic belief in elves
as supernatural beings of wisdom and power.
The name traveled into England with the Norman Conquest of 1066.
What the name Aubrey means
The legendary Alberich appears in the Nibelungenlied as the dwarf king who guards the Rhinegold, a figure later immortalized by Richard Wagner in Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Saint Aubrey, also known as Saint Aubry of Auxerre, served as bishop of that French city in the 6th century.
After the Conquest, the name flourished among Anglo-Norman aristocracy, with multiple Earls of Oxford bearing the name Aubrey de Vere from the 12th to the 18th century.
The name’s literary footprint includes the antiquary John Aubrey (1626-1697), author of Brief Lives, an indispensable source for English biographical history.
Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) became one of the defining illustrators of the Aesthetic movement. The name also features in John William Polidori’s 1819 story The Vampyre, considered the first vampire tale in English prose.
Originally masculine, Aubrey shifted dramatically in the United States. It entered the female SSA top 1000 in 1974, accelerated through the 1990s, and reached rank 18 in 2013.
The transition was accelerated by the country song Aubrey by Bread (1972), whose subject was a girl. The masculine usage has now nearly vanished from the US top 1000.
Notable contemporary bearers include rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, known as Drake, and actress Aubrey Plaza. The name remains in the US top 100.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Aubrey
Aubrey - similar names
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