Home › Baby Names Directory › Audrey

Audrey

♀ Girl

Pronounced AW-dree /ˈɔː.dri/High

Meaning: Noble strength; from Old English aethel (noble) + thryth (strength)High

In 30 seconds: An Old English classic meaning 'noble strength,' Audrey was reborn as a byword for elegance through actress Audrey Hepburn and is now firmly in the modern top 100.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighOld English
MeaningNoble strength; from Old English aethel (noble) + thryth (strength)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 276,851

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201518812017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Audrey derives from the Old English Æthelthryth, composed of aethel (noble) and thryth (strength). It was contracted over centuries to Audrey. Saint Æthelthryth was a 7th-century queen and abbess.

The name fell from fashion by the 19th century but was dramatically revived by actress Audrey Hepburn in the 1950s and 1960s. It has been climbing U.S. charts ever since, now a consistent top-100 girls' name.

Did you know? Audrey is a contracted form of the Anglo-Saxon name Æthelthryth — the same name as Saint Etheldreda, 7th-century founder of Ely Cathedral.

Variations

AudreeAudrieEtheldreda

Nicknames

AudieDrey

Famous Bearers

  • ★Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993)
    British actress and humanitarian, Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner.

If you like Audrey…

Claire— same one-to-two syllable timeless elegance with French-English poise
Eleanor— vintage English classic with the same noble etymology
Vivian— mid-century Hollywood classic enjoying the same modern revival
Grace— effortless single-concept classic with the same timeless beauty

Frequently Asked

What does the name Audrey mean?

Audrey comes from the Old English Æthelthryth, meaning 'noble strength,' from aethel (noble) and thryth (strength).

How do you pronounce Audrey?

It is said AW-dree /ˈɔː.dri/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Audrey a boy or girl name?

Audrey is almost exclusively a girl's name.

How popular is Audrey?

Audrey has been a consistent U.S. top-100 girls' name for several decades, revived by the cultural legacy of Audrey Hepburn.