Audrey is a feminine given name of French origin and meaning "noble strength" or "noble beauty". It is derived from the Germanic element "auda", which means "noble", combined with the Old French word "rude", meaning "beauty".
The name Audrey has been popular throughout history, particularly in France and England. One of the most notable historical figures named Audrey was Saint Audrey, also known as Saint Etheldreda, who was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon princess and abbess.
In literature, the name Audrey gained further popularity through its use by renowned authors such as Mark Twain in his novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and Oscar Wilde in his play "The Importance of Being Earnest".
Today, Audrey remains a popular choice for parents naming their daughters. Its simplicity and elegance make it a timeless option that continues to appeal to many.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Audrey in the United States from 1894 to 2023, we can observe several trends over time.
The name Audrey first started gaining popularity around the early 1900s. Between 1906 and 1910, there were between 10 and 17 births per year with the name Audrey. However, it wasn't until the 1910s that Audrey became more common, with a significant increase in popularity starting from 1912. That year saw 25 births, followed by 39 and 42 births in the subsequent years of 1913 and 1914 respectively.
The name Audrey reached its peak popularity during the 1920s, with the highest number of births occurring in 1926, when there were 70 babies named Audrey. This decade also saw consistent high numbers of births with this name, ranging from 51 to 70 each year.
However, after the 1920s, the popularity of the name Audrey began to decline. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, there was a steady decrease in the number of babies named Audrey, dropping as low as 21 births in 1945.
The name Audrey remained relatively uncommon from the 1950s until the late 1970s. During this period, the number of births with this name fluctuated between 13 and 35 each year, with no clear trend or significant increases in popularity.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a slight resurgence in the popularity of Audrey, with birth numbers ranging from 10 to 24 annually. However, this increase was short-lived, as the name's popularity once again declined throughout the remainder of the century.
In the new millennium, starting around 2004, the name Audrey began to regain some traction. Between 2004 and 2023, there were between 5 and 19 births per year with this name, suggesting a renewed interest in it among parents.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can conclude that while Audrey was quite popular during the early to mid-20th century, especially during the 1910s and 1920s, its popularity has waxed and waned throughout history. Despite several periods of decline, the name Audrey continues to be chosen for newborn girls in recent years, indicating that it remains a timeless choice among parents.