Unisex
Old French
3 syllables
Avery
AY-vuh-ree
/ˈeɪvəri/
"Elfin and wise" — breezy, modern, and effortlessly cool
Avery crossed from a medieval surname into the modern first-name landscape with elegant ease. Derived from the Old French form of the Germanic Alberich — meaning 'elf ruler' — it was historically a male surname but has become one of the most popular unisex names in the United States, predominantly given to girls. Its three crisp syllables feel both approachable and distinctive, a combination that keeps it perpetually in fashion.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesA · ver · y
GenderUnisex
OriginOld French
Root WordAlberich
MeaningRuler of elves, elf counsel
PopularityVery Popular
Peak Year2014
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
AvesAvieAve
About the Name Avery
Avery derives from the Old French form of the Germanic name Alberich, meaning 'elf ruler' or 'counsel of the elves.' In medieval Germanic mythology, elves were associated with wisdom and hidden knowledge.
Avery is technically unisex but is now given predominantly to girls in the United States. It ranks in the top 15 for girls and outside the top 200 for boys. In the UK and Canada it remains more evenly split.
Avery is extremely popular, consistently ranking in the top 20 US girl names since around 2013. It peaked at #14 in 2014 and has remained near that level since.
Avery Grace, Avery Rose, Avery Mae, Avery Kate, and Avery Blue are all stylish, harmonious combinations that suit the name's modern breezy feel.
Aves and Avie are the most natural short forms. Ave is occasionally used. Because the name is only three syllables, many people use it in full.
Avery originated as a medieval English and Norman French surname derived from the Germanic Alberich, meaning 'elf ruler.' It transitioned to a given name in the 20th century and became a popular unisex name from the 1990s onwards.
Personality of Avery
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Avery
Creativity
80%
Elegance
78%
Independence
84%
Intelligence
78%
Strength
72%
Warmth
82%
Famous People Named Avery
A
Avery Bradley
American NBA basketball player who played for multiple teams including the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers
A
Avery Johnson
Former NBA player and head coach, known as 'The Little General' for his fierce competitive spirit
A
Avery from Grey's Anatomy
Jackson Avery, a main character in the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy, played by Jesse Williams
Middle Names for Avery
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Avery
Avery Grace
Avery Rose
Avery Mae
Avery Lynn
Avery Kate
Avery Blue
Avery Jade
Avery Claire
Avery Elise
Avery Skye
Avery Wren
Avery Pearl
Names Similar to Avery
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Avery
Medieval period
Avery exists as an Anglo-Norman surname derived from the Germanic Alberich, carried by Norman families into England
1900s
Avery begins appearing as a given name in the US, initially almost exclusively for boys
1990s
Avery begins crossing over to girls, following the path of names like Ashley and Taylor in the preceding decade
2005
Avery enters the US girls top 100, beginning its rapid ascent
2014
Avery peaks at #14 for girls in the US, one of the most popular unisex names of the decade
Numerology & Symbolism of Avery
8
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Libra
5
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Dusty Rose
💎
Lucky Stone
Rose Quartz
🌸
Lucky Flower
Cherry Blossom
Avery Around the World
How Avery is written in different languages and scripts
إيفري
Arabic
エイブリー
Japanese
Эйвери
Russian
에이버리
Korean
艾弗里
Chinese
Έιβερι
Greek
एवरी
Hindi
אייברי
Hebrew
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