| Avery | Aubrey | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Ruler of elves | Elf ruler |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AY-vuh-ree | AW-bree |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1889 |
| Peak year | 2014 (9,578) | 2012 (8,061) |
| In 2025 | 5,267 | 2,003 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Avery | Aubrey |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 36,617 | 17,235 |
| 2010s | 82,921 | 65,935 |
| 2000s | 41,706 | 29,537 |
| 1990s | 6,697 | 10,906 |
| 1980s | 952 | 6,802 |
| 1970s | 318 | 2,055 |
| 1960s | 168 | 115 |
| 1950s | 149 | 92 |
| 1940s | 112 | 112 |
| 1930s | 79 | 174 |
| 1920s | 151 | 277 |
| 1910s | 93 | 177 |
| 1900s | 37 | 74 |
| 1890s | 6 | 19 |
| 1880s | 0 | 5 |
Avery comes from an English surname derived from the Germanic Alberic, “elf ruler.” Once a boy’s name, it is now popular for girls.
Aubrey comes from the Germanic Alberic, “elf ruler” or “ruler of supernatural beings.” Once a boy’s name, it is now chiefly given to girls.
Avery is more popular than Aubrey today: about 5,267 US babies were given the name Avery in 2025, compared with 2,003 named Aubrey.
Avery means Ruler of elves (English origin), while Aubrey means Elf ruler (English origin).
In US records, Avery first appears in 1890 and Aubrey in 1889, so Aubrey has the longer recorded history.