Home › Baby Names Directory › Aubrey

Aubrey

♂ Boy

Pronounced AWB-ree /ˈɔb.ɹi/Medium

Meaning: ElfMedium

In 30 seconds: Aubrey is an English name meaning 'elf'. Old as a masculine name, it has a smooth, courtly sound.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningElf
U.S. rank (2024)#1744 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births94 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1926
Total births (all-time)≈ 31,019

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192618802024

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

History & Origin

Aubrey carries the meaning 'elf' and reaches back through English usage to older Germanic roots, glimpsed in the related Ælfric and Auberon. Long a boy's name, it later gained popular feminine spellings such as Aubree and Aubrie. The masculine form keeps a refined, slightly antique flavor.

Bearers include the Boston Bruins hockey player Aubrey 'Dit' Clapper (1907-1978) and the actor Aubrey Morris (1926-2015). The variations spread across genders, but the 'elf' meaning stays constant through all of them.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Aubrey is 'elf', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Aubrey — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AubreeAubrieAubrielleÆlfricAuberon

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Aubrey "Dit" Clapper (1907–1978)
    Hockey player, position RW, with the 1927-47 Boston Bruins.
  • ★Aubrey Morris (1926–2015)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Aubrey…

Aubree— A modern spelling variant of the same name.
Aubrielle— An elaborated form built from the same Aubrey base.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Aubrey mean?

Aubrey is usually explained as meaning 'elf' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Aubrey?

It's commonly said AWB-ree /ˈɔb.ɹi/.

Is Aubrey a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Aubrey is used as a boy name.

How popular is Aubrey?

In 2024, Aubrey ranked #1744 in the U.S. for boys, with 94 births recorded.