Auberi is a medieval French masculine name, the Old French precursor of the modern English name Aubrey. It ultimately derives from the Germanic name Alberich, composed of the elements alb meaning "elf" and ric meaning "power" or "ruler", thus conveying the sense of "elf ruler" or "supernatural power".Etymology and HistoryThe name Alberich figures in Germanic mythology as a dwarf king and a figure in the Nibelungenlied. With the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, the Old French form Auberi was introduced to England, where it evolved into the medieval English name Aubrey. Around the same period, a variant form Auberon emerged in the Carolingian cycle of chivalric romances, notably in the 13th-century epic Huon de Bordeaux, where Auberon is a fairy king—this form later influenced Shakespeare's character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream.Later UsageIn England, Aubrey became common during the Middle Ages but declined after the Reformation. It saw a revival in the 19th century, possibly influenced by the Romantic fascination with medieval names. Since the mid-1970s, in the English-speaking world, Aubrey has more frequently been given to girls, owing to the 1972 song Aubrey by Bread and its phonetic similarity to the feminine name Audrey.Related FormsOther cognates include the Anglo-Saxon Ælfric (also meaning "elf-power"), the Italian Alberico, and the Germanic Alberic. The Spanish Alberico and Norse Alfarr share the same roots.Meaning: "Elf ruler"Origin: Germanic (Alberich), via Old FrenchType: Medieval French masculine nameUsage Regions: France (medieval); modern usage revives through English Aubrey