Audrey

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Audrey

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Audrey comes from the Old English name Aetheldreda (or Aethelthryth), meaning “Noble Strength” from “aethel” (noble) and “dreda” (strength).

History:
Audrey began as a pet form for Etheldreda (a relatively favorite name of the Middle Ages) until the 17th century when St. Etheldreda began to be called St. Audrey. Thereafter, Audrey was occasionally given as a first name. Generally, it was only used by the lower classes and soon came to be considered vulgar. Matters weren’t helped by the new word “tawdry,” with reference to the cheap necklaces sold at St. Audrey’s. Never very common, it had completely died out by its late 19th century revival.

Pronunciation: aud-ree.

Alternates (female): Audra, Audre, Audrea, Audreana, Audreanna, Audree, Audri, Audria, Audriana, Audrianna, Audrie, Audrielle, Audrina, Audris.
Dutch: Ethilrede.
German: Adeltraud, Edeltraud, Adeltrud.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Audrey R. Duckert (1927-)
American linguist.

Fictional Characters:
Audrey
A country rustic from Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
Audrey II
The man-eating plant from Little Shop of Horrors.

Political Figures:
Audrey McLaughlin (1936-)
Canadian politician.

Religious Figures:
Saint Etheldreda (Aethelthryth, Audrey) (630-679)
Anglo-Saxon nun.

Singers and Entertainers:
Audrey Meadows (1924-1996)
American comedian.
Audrey Hepburn (Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston) (1929-1993)
Belgian-English actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.127 % named Audrey
0.015 % named Audra
0.003 % named Audry
0.002 % named Audrea
0.001 % named Audrie
0.001 % named Audria

Popularity of Audrey:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 176th most popular.
1910-1920: 127th most popular.
1920-1930: 72nd most popular.
1930-1940: 78th most popular.
1940-1950: 145th most popular.
1950-1960: 165th most popular.
1960-1970: 204th most popular.
1970-1980: 258th most popular.
1980-1990: 191st most popular.
1990: 167th most popular.
1991: 175th most popular.
1992: 182nd most popular.
1993: 161st most popular.
1994: 164th most popular.
1995: 172nd most popular.
1996: 164th most popular.
1997: 157th most popular.
1998: 146th most popular.
1999: 136th most popular.
2000: 117th most popular.
2001: 114th most popular.
2002: 102nd most popular.
2003: 78th most popular.

In France...
1900-1970: N/A
1971: 166th most popular.
1980: 7th most popular.
1990: 12th most popular.
2000: 65th most popular.

Popularity of Audra:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 681st most popular.
1910-1920: 696th most popular.
1920-1930: 780th most popular.
1930-1940: 909th most popular.
1940-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 518th most popular.
1970-1980: 390th most popular.
1980-1990: 446th most popular.
1990: 703rd most popular.
1991: 672nd most popular.
1992: 742nd most popular.
1993: 796th most popular.
1994: 765th most popular.
1995: 877th most popular.
1996: 931st most popular.
1997: 972nd most popular.
1998: 973rd most popular.
1999: 978th most popular.
2000: N/A
2001: 989th most popular.
2002: N/A

Popularity of Audry:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 962nd most popular.
1940-2000: N/A