Avery
Pronunciation/ˈvəri/ AY-vər-ee or /ˈvri/ AYV-ree
GenderUnisex
Language(s)English, Old English, Norman French
Origin
DerivationÆlfred
Meaning"Elf-counsel"
Other names
Alternative spellingAverie, Averi
See alsoAlfred, Alf, Alberich, Aubrey

Avery is traditionally a male given name ultimately derived from the Old English name Ælfred (Old English form of Alfred),[1] which is formed from the elements ælf 'elf' and ræd 'counsel', and literally translating to 'elf-counsel'. [2]

Beginning in the late 20th century, Avery began to also be used as a female given name and sometimes appears with the feminine alternative spellings Averie/Averi.[3][4] Avery also exists as a surname.

Regional Popularity

North America

The name is now a much more popular given name for girls than for boys in the United States and Canada. In the U.S. in 2021, it ranked 19th in popularity for girls, and 221st for boys.[5] The same year in Canada, it ranked 33rd for girls and 159th for boys.[6] In one study of babies born in the State of Pennsylvania between 1990 and 2010, more girls were named Avery than boys in each year studied.[7]

Great Britain

In England and Wales, Avery is less popular over all and is used as both a masculine and feminine name with similar frequency, though still slightly more for girls. In 2021, it ranked 355th for girls and 433 for boys.[8]

Alternative Etymology

It has also been suggested that it could possibly be a derivation of the Germanic name Alberich which, if true, would make it a doublet of Aubrey.[9]

Notable people with the name

As a male name

As a female name

Fictional characters

References

  1. Redmonds, George (2004-04-13). Christian Names in Local and Family History. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-55488-132-1.
  2. Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. pp. 9, 25. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.
  3. "Popularity for the name Avery - Behind the Name". www.behindthename.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  4. "Name Avery Meaning, Origin etc. - Both - Baby Name Avery". 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  5. "Popular Baby Names". www.ssa.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  6. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-05-09). "Baby Names Observatory". www150.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  7. Barry III, Herbert; Harper, Aylene S. (March 2014), "Unisex Names for Babies Born in Pennsylvania 1990-2010", Names: A Journal of Onomastics, 62 (1): 13–22
  8. "Baby names in England and Wales: from 1996 - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  9. Hayes, Justin Cord (2012-12-18). The Terrible Meanings of Names: Or Why You Shouldn't Poke Your Giselle with a Barry. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4405-5256-4.

Media related to Avery (given name) at Wikimedia Commons

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