Summary
Aubree is a modern, feminine spelling of the name Aubrey, which has ancient Germanic roots. It means "elf ruler," combining the Old German words for "elf" and "ruler." Originally a boy's name that traveled to England with the Normans in 1066, it has since become a popular choice for girls, with the "Aubree" spelling adding a contemporary, stylish feel.
Etymology & History
The story of Aubree begins with the ancient Germanic tribes of Europe. The name's earliest known form is the masculine name Alberīks. This name was built from two distinct parts:
- alb, meaning "elf" or "supernatural being."
- rīks (or ric), meaning "ruler" or "power."
Together, they created the powerful and mystical meaning "ruler of the elves." In Germanic folklore, Alberich was a legendary sorcerer and the king of the dwarves, who guarded the treasure of the Nibelungs.
The name's journey into the English-speaking world began with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Normans, who spoke a dialect of Old French, brought with them their version of the name, Auberi or Aubry. It quickly became established in England, particularly among the nobility. One of the most prominent early bearers was Albericus (Aubrey) de Vere, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror. His descendants became the Earls of Oxford and continued to use the name for generations, cementing its place in English aristocracy.
For centuries, Aubrey was used almost exclusively as a masculine name. However, starting in the late 20th century, it began to be used for girls, particularly in the United States. This shift was partly influenced by the 1972 song "Aubrey" by the band Bread and its phonetic similarity to the classic girl's name Audrey. The spelling "Aubree" emerged as a distinctly feminine and modern variant, gaining significant popularity in the early 21st century as parents sought a fresh take on the traditional name.
Pronunciation & How It Sounds
- IPA: /ˈɔːbri/
- Syllables: 2
- Tone: Soft
- Stress: AW-bree
In plain English, Aubree is pronounced "AW-bree," with the emphasis on the first syllable. The name has a gentle, lyrical sound, which is enhanced by the final "ee" sound in this particular spelling.
Historically, the name's sound has softened over time. Its ancient Germanic form, Alberīks, would have sounded much harder. When the Normans brought the name to England, it was in the Old French form Auberi, which smoothed the hard "k" sound at the end into a softer vowel sound. This French influence is key to the name's modern, more melodic pronunciation.
Variants & Relatives
- Aubrey: The original English spelling, now considered unisex but still more common for girls in the U.S.
- Alberich: The ancient Germanic form of the name, from which Aubree ultimately derives.
- Auberi: The Old French version of the name that was introduced to England by the Normans.
- Aubrie: Another feminized spelling variant, popular in the United States.
- Oberon: The King of the Fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, whose name is believed to be derived from the same Germanic roots.
- Alberico: The Italian version of the name.
- Ælfrīc: The native Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the name, meaning "elf-ruler," which was used before the Norman Conquest.
Historical Usage & Popularity
Historically, Aubrey was a moderately common male name in medieval England but fell out of widespread use for a time before being revived in the 19th century. Its use as a female name is a much more recent phenomenon.
The spelling "Aubree" is a 21st-century innovation that has surged in popularity, especially in the United States. It consistently ranked among the top 100 names for baby girls in the U.S. for over a decade, peaking in popularity in 2013 when it was the 53rd most common choice.## Famous Historical Figures
While the "Aubree" spelling is modern, the traditional form "Aubrey" has been borne by several notable historical figures:
- Aubrey de Vere I (c. 1040–1112): A Norman knight who participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and was granted vast estates by William the Conqueror. His son, Aubrey de Vere II, was the first Lord Great Chamberlain of England.
- Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford (c. 1115–1194): A powerful English nobleman during the tumultuous period of civil war known as The Anarchy. He was a key political and military figure who was granted the earldom by Empress Matilda in 1142.
- John Aubrey (1626–1697): An English writer, antiquarian, and natural philosopher. He is best remembered for his collection of short biographical sketches, Brief Lives, which provided candid and colorful portraits of his contemporaries, including William Shakespeare and Thomas Hobbes.
- Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898): A highly influential English illustrator and author associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements. His striking and often controversial black-and-white drawings left a significant mark on the art world despite his early death at age 25.
Cultural & Literary Presence
- Alberich: In Germanic mythology, Alberich is a powerful dwarf or elf king who guards the mythical treasure of the Nibelungs. He is a central figure in the epic German poem the Nibelungenlied and in Richard Wagner's opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen.
- Oberon: The name's relative, Auberon (or Oberon), is famously known as the King of the Fairies in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Jack Aubrey: A fictional character and one of the two main protagonists of Patrick O'Brian's acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series of historical novels, set during the Napoleonic Wars.
Classification & Tags
- Germanic
- French
- English
- Mythological
- Royal
- Elf Ruler
- Supernatural
- Medieval
- Classic
- Modern Variant
- Feminine
Bibliography & Sources
- Behind the Name. (n.d.). Aubrey. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.behindthename.com/name/aubrey
- Campbell, K. (n.d.). Aubrey. Nameberry. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://nameberry.com/baby-name/aubrey
- FamilySearch. (n.d.). Aubrey Name Meaning and Aubrey Family History. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname?surname=aubrey
- Hanks, P., & Hodges, F. (1990). A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press.
- Online Etymology Dictionary. (n.d.). Aubrey. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/aubrey
- Sandel, A. (2015, January 22). Aubrey: Baby Name of the Day. Appellation Mountain. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://appellationmountain.net/aubrey-baby-name-of-the-day/
- Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Popularity of a Name. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/