Aubrey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AW-bree //ˈɔːbri//
Origin: Old French; English
Meaning: Old French: elf ruler; English: noble
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Aubrey has its roots in the Old French name Aubree, which itself derives from the Germanic name Alberic, composed of the elements 'ald' meaning 'old' or 'wise' and 'ric' meaning 'ruler' or 'power.' This name was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it evolved into various forms, including Aubrey and Aubree. The name has been recorded in English since at least the 12th century, often associated with noble lineage and chivalric ideals, reflecting the characteristics of wisdom and leadership inherent in its etymology.
Aubrey gained prominence through historical figures, notably Saint Aubrey, a 7th-century bishop in the region now known as France, who contributed to the spread of Christianity. The name was also borne by several notable individuals in medieval England, including Aubrey de Vere, the 1st Earl of Oxford, who lived in the 12th century.
The name's association with nobility and its use in literature, such as in the works of poets and playwrights during the Renaissance, helped to solidify its place in the cultural lexicon. Culturally, Aubrey has been linked to themes of nobility and wisdom, often evoking images of strength and leadership.
The name's feminine form, Aubree, has also been noted in various literary contexts, enhancing its appeal. Over the centuries, Aubrey has maintained a presence in English-speaking cultures, often symbolizing a blend of grace and strength, reflecting the historical significance of its roots and the enduring qualities associated with its meaning.
Famous people named Aubrey
In this section, you will find notable people named Aubrey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Aubrey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Aubrey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Aubrey Plaza is an actress and comedian best known for Parks and Recreation, Legion, and Ingrid Goes West.
Aubrey O'Day is a singer and television personality best known for being a member of Danity Kane, and for her appearances on reality TV shows.
Aubrey Drake Graham, known as Drake, is a rapper and singer best known for albums like Take Care, Views, and Scorpion.
Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist best known for his work on aging and longevity research.
Fictional characters named Aubrey
The following list of fictional characters named Aubrey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Aubrey is a fictional character from the novel series Aubrey-Maturin by Patrick O'Brian. He is a naval officer and close friend of Captain Jack Aubrey, playing a significant role in the adventures of the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
Aubrey is a fictional character from the animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. She is a student at Elmore Junior High and is known for her cheerful personality and friendship with the main characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Aubrey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Aubrey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Aubrey was first seen in the United States in 1889.
Aubrey has ranked as high as #59 nationally, which occurred in 2012, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Aubrey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Aubrey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Aubrey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Aubrey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 247 | |
| TX | 210 | |
| FL | 142 | |
| PA | 98 | |
| NC | 93 | |
| NY | 87 | |
| GA | 84 | |
| OH | 83 | |
| IL | 76 | |
| VA | 69 | |
| NJ | 62 | |
| WI | 55 | |
| SC | 50 | |
| MO | 49 | |
| TN | 48 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Aubrey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,209 |
| 2023 | 2,576 |
| 2022 | 2,997 |
| 2021 | 3,516 |
| 2020 | 3,919 |
| 2019 | 4,595 |
| 2018 | 5,208 |
| 2017 | 5,934 |
| 2016 | 6,551 |
| 2015 | 7,403 |
| 2014 | 7,632 |
| 2013 | 7,984 |
| 2012 | 8,059 |
| 2011 | 7,187 |
| 2010 | 5,365 |
| 2009 | 5,408 |
| 2008 | 5,570 |
| 2007 | 4,506 |
| 2006 | 3,660 |
| 2005 | 2,264 |
| 2004 | 1,816 |
| 2003 | 1,757 |
| 2002 | 1,641 |
| 2001 | 1,505 |
| 2000 | 1,410 |
| 1999 | 1,252 |
| 1998 | 1,252 |
| 1997 | 1,134 |
| 1996 | 1,094 |
| 1995 | 1,045 |
| 1994 | 1,103 |
| 1993 | 1,058 |
| 1992 | 1,108 |
| 1991 | 923 |
| 1990 | 936 |
| 1989 | 793 |
| 1988 | 838 |
| 1987 | 821 |
| 1986 | 721 |
| 1985 | 770 |
| 1984 | 623 |
| 1983 | 591 |
| 1982 | 638 |
| 1981 | 527 |
| 1980 | 480 |
| 1979 | 471 |
| 1978 | 389 |
| 1977 | 335 |
| 1976 | 263 |
| 1975 | 229 |
| 1974 | 185 |
| 1973 | 142 |
| 1972 | 20 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 12 |
| 1969 | 17 |
| 1968 | 10 |
| 1967 | 18 |
| 1966 | 12 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1961 | 15 |
| 1960 | 13 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1957 | 8 |
| 1956 | 10 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1954 | 12 |
| 1952 | 9 |
| 1951 | 13 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1949 | 5 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1947 | 11 |
| 1946 | 9 |
| 1945 | 12 |
| 1944 | 12 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 16 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1940 | 15 |
| 1939 | 12 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 21 |
| 1936 | 13 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 17 |
| 1933 | 18 |
| 1932 | 19 |
| 1931 | 15 |
| 1930 | 28 |
| 1929 | 28 |
| 1928 | 27 |
| 1927 | 28 |
| 1926 | 35 |
| 1925 | 27 |
| 1924 | 35 |
| 1923 | 24 |
| 1922 | 24 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1920 | 19 |
| 1919 | 22 |
| 1918 | 19 |
| 1917 | 25 |
| 1916 | 23 |
| 1915 | 17 |
| 1914 | 17 |
| 1913 | 13 |
| 1912 | 15 |
| 1911 | 17 |
| 1910 | 9 |
| 1908 | 11 |
| 1907 | 9 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1904 | 9 |
| 1903 | 9 |
| 1902 | 6 |
| 1901 | 11 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1898 | 6 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1889 | 5 |