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The short answer
Audrey is a feminine English name, a medieval diminutive of the Anglo-Saxon name Æðelþryð. It was the name of a 7th-century saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely, and Shakespeare used it for a character in As You Like It (1599). Behind the Name records that the name became rare at the end of the Middle Ages because of the word tawdry, which was derived from St. Audrey's fair where cheap lace was sold, and that it was revived in the 19th century. Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) is its most famous bearer. Pronounced AW-dree, it ranked #86 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Audrey as a "medieval diminutive of Æðelþryð", the Anglo-Saxon name that also appears in the related-names table as Æthelthryth, with the Medieval English forms Aldreda, Etheldred and Etheldreda and the German Edeltraud. The gloss of Æðelþryð is not included in the material fetched for this pass, so the literal meaning is not stated here. The entry's history is the memorable part: the name "became rare due to association with the word tawdry (which was derived from St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold), but it was revived in the 19th century". Audra and Audrea are listed as English variants and Audie as a diminutive.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Anglo-Saxon | Æðelþryð | parent name; gloss not verified in this pass |
| Medieval English | Audrey | diminutive of Æðelþryð |
Popularity
Audrey ranked #86 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name describes the name as rare at the end of the Middle Ages and revived in the 19th century.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #86 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Audie
Variants: Audra, Audrea
Related names: Æthelthryth, Etheldreda, Edeltraud, Odrija
What the name feels like
Audrey is a vintage name with real age behind it, a medieval saint's name that now reads as mid-century elegant, largely thanks to its most famous bearer. Two syllables, a soft opening and a bright -ey ending make it easy to say, and it sits comfortably between the frilly and the plain.
Style tags: vintage, saint's name, two syllables, elegant, Anglo-Saxon root
Editorial interpretation: The style summary is editorial opinion. The "mid-century elegant" reading rests on Audrey Hepburn, whom Behind the Name names as a famous bearer; the sense of elegance itself is interpretation, not fact.
If you like this name
Other revived vintage girls' names, and names that share Audrey's sound.
Similar by style
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Audrey mean?
Audrey is a medieval diminutive of the Anglo-Saxon name Æðelþryð (Etheldreda). Behind the Name does not gloss it in the Audrey entry; see the parent name for its elements.
Is Audrey a popular name?
Yes. Audrey ranked #86 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the word tawdry come from?
Behind the Name says tawdry was derived from St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold, and that this association made the name Audrey rare at the end of the Middle Ages until its 19th-century revival.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Audrey — supports etymology, pronunciation, history, tawdry note, variants, nickname, Audrey Hepburn.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
