Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Aubrey
GirlFrench, Germanic· “elf ruler”
- Meaning
- elf ruler
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- AW-bree
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #146
- US babies 2025
- 2,003
- Best rank
- #15 (2012)
- Peak year
- 2012
Meaning and origin of Aubrey
Aubrey is a French and Germanic name that means “elf ruler”.
Aubrey came to England with the Normans as a French form of the Germanic Alberich, built from alf, meaning elf, and ric, meaning ruler or power. For centuries it was mainly a masculine name, carried by the aristocratic de Vere family and by the seventeenth-century writer John Aubrey, known for his lively Brief Lives. In the United States it shifted toward girls during the late twentieth century, helped by its soft sound and its similarity to Audrey. Today it is used mostly for daughters, with Aubree and Aubrie as spellings. It keeps an old-world pedigree while sounding light and modern.
Other spellings with the same sound: Aubry.
Popularity over time
Aubrey first appears in US Social Security records in 1889. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 53 different years, starting in 1973. Its best national rank was #15 in 2012, the same year it reached its highest count of 8,061 babies. In 2025, 2,003 babies were named Aubrey, and it ranked #146 nationally. That is 73% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,018 in 1920, #3,439 in 1950, #446 in 1980, #223 in 2000, #45 in 2010, and #146 in 2025. Of the 133,515 US girls named Aubrey since records began, 49% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 29,537 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lily, Zoey, Brooklyn, Zoe, and Aaliyah.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aubrey ranked highest in West Virginia, Wyoming, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #44 | 25 |
| Wyoming | #59 | 6 |
| Connecticut | #70 | 35 |
| North Dakota | #73 | 12 |
| Louisiana | #87 | 41 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 97% of US babies named Aubrey over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Aubrey is usually pronounced AW-bree, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ey”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Aubry.
Middle names for Aubrey
A few middle names that flow with Aubrey: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aubrey
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Lists that include Aubrey
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aubrey mean?
Aubrey is a French and Germanic name that means “elf ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Aubrey?
Aubrey has French and Germanic roots. Aubrey came to England with the Normans as a French form of the Germanic Alberich, built from alf, meaning elf, and ric, meaning ruler or power.
Is Aubrey a popular name?
Yes. Aubrey ranked #146 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Aubrey a boy or girl name?
Aubrey is mainly a girl's name. About 97% of US babies named Aubrey over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Aubrey?
Aubrey is usually pronounced AW-bree. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings