Baby names
Audrey is a lovely and timeless name that is finding renewed favor with modern parents. The baby name first derived from Saint Audrey in the seventh century. Shakespeare even named a character after her in his play As You Like It. And ever since the iconic Audrey Hepburn hit the world stage, the name has been a popular choice for parents—but never more so than now.
The name Audrey is a girl's name of English origin meaning "noble strength".
Audrey is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Aethelthryth, the name that later evolved into Ethelred. St. Audrey was a seventh century saint who was particularly revered in the Middle Ages. Her name led to the term tawdry, as cheap lace necklaces were sold at the St. Audrey fair. Shakespeare bestowed her name on a character in As You Like It.
Audrey is one of the girls' names that have been rising due to their connection to Old Hollywood glamour—in this case the eternally chic and radiant Audrey Hepburn. Celebs who have chosen Audrey include Greg Kinnear, Steve Zahn, and Faith Hill & Tim McGraw. Audrey has another very different appeal as one of the elite group of girl names that mean strong, brave, or powerful.
A current representative is the French actress Audrey Tautou—who made her mark in Amelie, The Da Vinci Code, and as Coco Chanel—and who shares some of the charm of Audrey Hepburn.
