How to say it
AU · brey
ˈɔ.bri
Unisex
Aubrey
Elf ruler
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.
How to spell Aubrey
The standard spelling is Aubrey. Common variants include Aubrie, Aubrielle, but Aubrey is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #15 in 2012, currently #146 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #224 in 1912, currently #2093 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
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
See Aubrey from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Aubrey mean?
- 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.
- What does Aubrey mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Aubrey means "Elf ruler." 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.
- How do you pronounce Aubrey?
- Aubrey is pronounced ˈɔ.bri. Say it as AU-brey, with the stress on the "au" syllable.
- How do you spell Aubrey?
- The standard spelling is Aubrey. Common spelling variants include Aubrie, Aubrielle.
- Is Aubrey a boy or girl name?
- Aubrey is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Aubrey?
- Aubrey ranked #146 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.