Aubrie

Aubrie is a feminine variant spelling of the unisex name Aubrey. Originating as an English name in the Middle Ages, Aubrie has gained popularity as a modern given name for girls, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, alongside other variant forms such as Aubree and Aubrielle.

Etymology and Origin

The name Aubrie ultimately derives from the Germanic element alb 'elf' and ric 'power, ruler', through the Old High German name Alberich. During the Middle Ages, it was introduced to England by the Normans in the form Auberi or Aubry, replacing the native Old English cognate Ælfrīc. The name was commonly used for both men and women in medieval England but later fell out of favour, only to be revived in the 19th century primarily as a masculine name.

Modern Usage and Cultural Shift

Long considered a masculine name, Aubrey—and by extension Aubrie—underwent a significant gender shift starting in the 1970s. In 1973, the soft-rock band Bread released the song Aubrey, which, combined with the name's phonetic similarity to the established feminine name Audrey, led to an increase in its use for girls. The variant spelling Aubrie emerged as a more distinctly feminine form, reinforcing the new gender association. By the 2020s, the base form Aubrey had become far more popular for girls than boys; in 2023, it ranked as the 101st most popular girls' name in the United States, per U.S. Social Security Administration data.

• Meaning: 'elf power' or 'elf ruler' (from Germanic alb 'elf' + ric 'power')
• Origin: English, from Norman French (Auberi) and ultimately from Old High German Alberich
• Gender: Primarily feminine today
• Usage regions: English-speaking countries, particularly the United States