Aubrey

How to say it

/ˈɔ.bri/

What it means

From the Germanic Alberic (alb 'elf' + ric 'power, ruler'). Originally a masculine name in English; flipped strongly feminine in the 1970s and 80s, particularly in the US.

Aubrey comes from the Germanic Alberic (alb 'elf' + ric 'power, ruler'). The same name in Norse mythology is Alberich, the dwarf-king who holds the Rhinegold in Wagner's Ring cycle. In English, Aubrey was a masculine name through the 19th century (Aubrey Beardsley the Art Nouveau illustrator, Aubrey de Grey the longevity researcher). The shift to feminine usage in the US happened in the late 1970s and accelerated; by 2000 it was overwhelmingly a girls' name. Aubrey Plaza, Aubrey O'Day, and Drake's song 'Aubrey' (his real first name) keep it culturally current. Common short: Aub, Aubs, or Bree.

Heads-up notes

• Pronunciation

  AW-bree, two syllables. Easy to confuse with Audrey (AW-dree); they have completely different roots.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

• Aubrey Plaza American actress, Parks and Recreation and The White Lotus
• Aubrey Beardsley Late-19th-century English Art Nouveau illustrator

Spelling variants

• Aubrie
• Aubrielle

Names with the same feeling

• Audrey Noble strength
• Avery Elf counsel
• Harper Harp player
• Addison Son of Adam
• Kennedy Helmeted head

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