Aubrey is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from the Germanic elements "álfr" meaning "elf" and "rīc" meaning "powerful". The name was first used as a masculine given name in medieval England, but it has since become more commonly associated with females. Aubrey was popularized as a female given name in the late 19th century by English writer Thomas Love Peacock's novel "The Misfortunes of Elphin", which featured a character named Aubrey. Today, Aubrey is still used for both boys and girls, but it is more commonly given to females.
The name Aubrey has seen a fascinating evolution in popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was quite rare, with fewer than 10 births per year between 1889 and 1923.
However, starting from 1924, there was a noticeable increase in its popularity, with more than 20 births per year. The highest point during this period was reached in 1937 with 21 births. After that, the number of Aubrey births fluctuated between 8 and 20 until the late 1960s.
In 1972, there was a significant surge in popularity, with 20 births, marking the beginning of a steady rise in the next decade. The name reached new heights in the 1980s, with over 500 births per year from 1983 onwards, peaking at 1410 births in 2000.
The popularity of Aubrey continued to grow throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, reaching its peak in 2012 with an impressive 8058 births. However, since then, there has been a decline in its popularity, with 3512 births in 2021 and 2993 in 2022.
In total, from 1889 to 2023, there have been 129238 births of the name Aubrey in the United States. This data shows that while Aubrey was once a rare name, it has since become quite popular and has maintained its popularity over several decades. However, recent trends indicate a possible decrease in its popularity in the coming years.