Audrey Overview
- Meaning: The name Audrey means“noble strength.”
- Gender: While some parents might like the idea of naming their son Audrey, it is much more commonly a female name.
- Origin: The name Audrey is of English origin. It comes from the Anglo-Norman words “æthel,” meaning “noble,” and þryð meaning “strength.”
- Pronunciation: Audrey is pronounced “AWD-ree.”
- Popularity: The name is very popular in the United States.
- Nicknames: Aud, Audie, Drey.
- Variations: Audre, Audrie, Audree.
- Namesakes: Audrey Hepburn (actress).
What Does Audrey Mean?
The name Audrey stems from the Old English phrase “Æðelþryð,” meaning “noble strength.”
What is the Origin of the Name Audrey?
The name Audrey is of English origin. It comes from the Anglo-Norman words “æthel,” meaning “noble,” and þryð meaning “strength.” Put together, the two terms form the phrase “noble strength.”
The earliest recorded use of the name Audrey comes from the Anglicization of the name of Saint Æthelthryth in the seventh century CE.
How Popular is the Name Audrey?
The name Audrey first became popular in the seventh century CE, as parents took it from the Anglicized name of Saint Æthelthryth. When the popularity of the fairs honoring her declined in the seventeenth century, so did the name. The name steadily regained popularity, shooting up in the ranks in the early twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
The name Audrey peaked in popularity between 1918 and 1939.
At the moment, the name Audrey is very popular. It is the sixtieth most popular name given to baby girls. It is currently very unpopular to give to baby boys, not ranking among the thousand most popular baby boy names (1).
How Do I Pronounce Audrey?
The name Audrey is pronounced, “AWD-ree.”
Is Audrey a Boy or Girl Name?
Audrey is most commonly used as a girl’s name. It can also be used as a boy’s name, but it is very unpopular compared to its use as a girl’s name.
Variations of Audrey
Possible variations of the name Audrey include:
- Audre (English)
- Audree (English)
- Audrie (English)
- Audrei (English)
- Autry (French)
- Etheldred (Old English)
Nicknames for Audrey
Some possible nicknames for a child named Audrey include:
- Aud
- Audie
- Dre
- Dri
Similar Names to Audrey
Names similar in sound to the name Audrey include:
- Andrea
- Andrey
- Aubrey
- Avi
- Kendra
- Landry
- Macauley
- Maude
Names similar in meaning to the name Audrey include:
- Adelaide (English, French, German, “noble kind”)
- Adelina (German, “noble”)
- Edelgard (German, “noble enclosure”
- Ethel (Old English, “noble”)
- Kimiko (Japanese, “noble child” depending on the kanji characters used)
- Mona (Anglicized Irish, “little noble one”)
- Gertrude (German, “spear of strength”)
- Matilda (German, “strength in battle”)
- Solveig (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, “sun strength”)
- Valencia (Spanish, “strength”)
Middle Names for Audrey
Possible middle names for a child named Audrey include:
Sibling Names for Audrey
Possible names for the sibling of a child named Audrey include:
Famous People Named Audrey
Celebrities and well-known public figures named Audrey include:
- Audrey Azoulay: French civil servant and politician.
- Audrey Flack: American artist.
- Audrey Hepburn: British actress.
- Audrey Landers: American actress and singer.
- Audre Lorde: Caribbean-American writer.
- Audrey Luna: American opera singer.
- Audrey McGraw: American model, daughter of country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
- Audrey Niffenegger: American novelist.
- Audrey Tautou: French actress.
- Audrey Wasilewski: American actress.
- Audrey Wells: American screenwriter, director, and producer.
- Saint Audrey: Anglo-Saxon Christian saint.
Audrey in Popular Culture
The name Audrey can be found in popular culture in many characters and media, including:
- Audrey and Audrey Two: Heroine and villain, respectively, of the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors.
- Audrey: Love interest of Touchstone in William Shakespeare’s 1623 comedy As You Like It.
- Audrey Horne: Character on 1990 American mystery-horror series Twin Peaks.
- Audrey Raines: Character in American action drama series 24.
- Audrey Rose: Character in the 1975 horror novel Audrey Rose by Frank De Felitta.
- Audrey Smith: Heroine of Paramount Pictures’ Famous Studios cartoon Little Audrey.
Audrey FAQs
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the name Audrey.
Is Audrey a Good Girl Name?
Audrey is commonly used as a female name. Giving a name that means “noble strength” is a great way to empower your future daughter and encourage her to be a good person.
Is There a Saint Audrey?
Yes, there is a Saint Audrey, also known as Æthelthryth or Etheldreda (2). She is the patron saint of throat complaints.
The custom of bringing lacework to an annual fair held in her name was the origin of the word “tawdry”. It comes from the pronunciation of the words Saint Audrey. At the time, the word referred to the silk ribbons and necklaces that travelers to the fair would wear.
Once Puritan culture became dominant in the seventeenth century, the custom fell out of favor. The lacework had fallen out of fashion and was considered an unnecessary show of vanity. It was then that the word took on its current meaning of “cheap, vulgar, and of bad quality.”
Is Audrey an Attractive Name?
Yes, very few names are unattractive, and many people will enjoy the sound of the name Audrey as much as you do. The name has a strong and confident yet classy sound, and it is associated with famously beautiful actresses.
Is Audrey a Biblical Name?
No, the name Audrey does not appear in the Bible. Despite this, the moniker still has its roots in religion, given that it originates from Saint Audrey, the patron saint of throat complaints after dying from a large growth on her neck.
Is Audrey an Old-Fashioned Name?
It is derived from Old English words and is heavily associated with Audrey Hepburn, an actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood, circa the 1910s-1960s.
However, this does not mean your child will be thought old-fashioned for having the name Audrey. The name is very popular in the modern age as well.
