Audrey
Audrey Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of Audrey: Audrey derives from the Old English Aethelthryth, a compound of aethel meaning noble and thryth meaning strength. Norman scribes softened the difficult consonant cluster into Audree and later Audrey during the 12th century, as detailed on etymology records.
Saint Etheldreda, also called Audrey, founded the abbey of Ely in 673 CE and served as its first abbess. Her feast day on June 23 drew medieval pilgrims to Ely, where a fair traded cheap lace trinkets called tawdry lace, giving English the adjective tawdry for cheap and gaudy.
Shakespeare's As You Like It included the shepherdess Audrey among its 1599 cast, signaling the name's continued English currency through the Renaissance. American records from the colonial era list steady if modest Audrey usage, and the form held top 300 US placement through most of the 19th century.
What Does Audrey Mean? Origin & Etymology
Per US Social Security Administration records, Audrey held a top 100 position for US girls from 1913 through 1943, peaking at rank 45 in 1929. Belgian-born actress Audrey Hepburn, star of Roman Holiday in 1953 and Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961, relaunched the name mid-century.
As of 2024, Audrey holds rank 82 for US girls with 2,993 births, softly easing from its 2013 peak of rank 36. The name ranks in the top 200 across France, where Audrey Hepburn's mother tongue made it a heritage option, plus strong placement across Belgium, Canada, and Australia.
Variants across languages include French Audree and Audrey, Old English Aethelthryth, Middle English Audree, the diminutive Audreen, and Latinized Audria. Notably, the Italian form Etelreda and the Spanish Eteldreda appear rarely outside monastic registers. English Etheldreda remains the formal saint's name in Catholic and Anglican liturgical calendars.
How Popular Is Audrey?
Numerology & Symbolism of Audrey
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Audrey – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Audrey
What does Audrey mean?
What is the origin of Audrey?
Audrey derives from Old English Aethelthryth. Saint Audrey of Ely established it in 7th-century Anglo-Saxon Britain. Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) transformed it into a symbol of elegance. Audrey entered the US top 25 in 2008.
How popular is Audrey in the US?
Audrey ranks 82 for girls in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It entered the top 25 in 2008 and peaked at rank 22 in 2012. Audrey has ranked in the top 100 continuously since 1992.
What are variants of Audrey?
Variants include Audree, Audri, and Audra (Eastern European form). Audra ranks separately in the US top 500. Related names include Ethel and Etheldreda (the Anglo-Saxon full form).
Is Audrey more popular for girls or boys?
Audrey is given almost exclusively to girls. It ranks 82 for girls in the US in 2024 and does not appear in the top 1000 boys’ names.
Audrey – Name Variants & Spellings
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Audree | English variant |
| Audrie | English variant |
| Audra | Lithuanian/French |
| Etheldred | Old English origin |