Name profile

GirlPronounced English /ˈɔd.ɹi/; French /o.dʁɛ/Dutch language family

Audrey

Medieval diminutive of Æðelþryð.

Quick answer

Audrey is a girl name.

Pronunciation: English /ˈɔd.ɹi/; French /o.dʁɛ/.

GenderGirl
PronunciationEnglish /ˈɔd.ɹi/; French /o.dʁɛ/
Language familyDutch

Meaning and history

Medieval diminutive of Æðelþryð. This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely. It was also used by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy As You Like It (1599). At the end of the Middle Ages 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. A famous bearer was British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).

Notes and context

Usage: english, french