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Origin, Meaning, And History of Audrey
Audrey has origins in the Anglo-Norman name meaning ‘noble strength.’ It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Aethelþryð‘ composed of two parts ‘aethel‘ meaning ‘noble’ and ‘þryð‘ meaning ‘strength’. The name later evolved as Etheldred or Etheldreda from the Anglicized Aethelthryth.
The name fell out of fashion in the Middle Ages after it became associated with the word tawdry because cheap lace was sold in a fair called St Audrey. It came back to fashion in the 19th century as famous faces like Audrey Hepburn bore the name.
Several variations of this name include Audre, Audrie, and Audree with nicknames like Aud, Audie, and Drey.
The earliest record of this name can be traced back to the seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, known as Etheldreda or Audrey. She was an East Anglian Princess and Abbess of Ely. She was separated from her husband due to a miraculous high tide and managed to escape by finding the great abbey of Ely with her strength. She lived there and spent her religious life becoming a patron saint of widows.
The name Audrey has been used by the famous English playwright William Shakespeare in his pastoral comedy play, ‘As You Like It’ written in 1599. Audrey has been depicted as a goatherd from the Forest of Arden who looks for honesty in others and agrees to marry Touchstone. Audrey Anderson is a fictional character from the 2010 American horror action film, ‘Legion’ played by Willa Holland. Audrey Turfe is a fictional character, chased by four suitors in the Renaissance comedy play ‘A Tale Of A Tub’ by Ben Johnson. Audrey Parker is another popular fictional character in the American teen sitcom ‘Drake & Josh’. She is the mother of Drake and Megan and the wife of Walter Nichols. The TV series ‘24’ had a character named Audrey Raines who was played by Kim Raver.
How To Pronounce Audrey?
Famous People With The Name Audrey
- Audrey HepburnBritish actress and humanitarian ranked third greatest female screen legend of Hollywood
- Audrey LandersAmerican actress known for her role in the television series ‘Dallas’
- Audrey LordeAmerican writer, and activist, known for her poetic work ‘The Black Unicorn’
- Audrey AzoulayFrench civil servant and Director-General of UNESCO
- Audrey LunaAmerican opera singer and winner of Grammy Award
- Audrey NiffeneggerAmerican writer known for her bestseller ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’
Audrey On The Popularity Chart
The name Audrey rose in popularity from the 2000s. Take a look at the graphical representation below.
Popularity Over Time
The name peaked in popularity in 2015 with 5611 babies per million being named Audrey. However, its popularity started declining after 2015 with 3662 babies per million being named Audrey in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Audrey entered the top 100 most popular names in 2002 and gradually improved its ranking making its way into the top 50 in 2007. It ranked number 60 in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Audrey
If you like the sound of Audrey but want more options, take a look at some suggestions below.
Names With Similar Meaning As Audrey
If you want a name denoting ‘nobility,’ here are some options for you to consider.
Name Numerology For Audrey
