Aubri

Aubri is the latest modernized, Americanized and “cuteified” respelling of Aubrey. Aubrey traveled to England as a masculine name in the 11th century originally by way of the Norman-French “Auberi”. The Franks derived Auberi from the Old High German “Alberic” meaning “ruler of the elves” from the Germanic elements “alb(e)” (elf, supernatural being) and “rīc” (power, rule). For instance, Alberic was the fair-haired, king of the elves in Germanic mythology. Elves (sometimes interchangeable with dwarfs and fairies) featured prominently in early Germanic/Nordic mythology; they possessed certain magical powers which could be used to either help or hinder the progress of humans (although the little devils evolved with more sinister powers in later folklore). After the Norman Conquest of England (1066), the name Aubrey was common in the latter part of the Middle Ages but eventually diminished in usage. Aubrey was always considered a boys’ name in the English-speaking world until the 1970’s when Americans started using it on baby girls. Once Aubrey hit a certain level of popularity in the United States, respellings such as Aubree and Aubrie began to appear. Aubri is the latest example of America’s fondness for new “respelt” names.