Avery
AY-ver-ee · 3 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Old French / Germanic ◈ 3 syllables
"Ruler of elves, wise counsellor"

From Old French / Germanic

Avery has made one of the most dramatic gender crossovers in modern naming. Originally a Norman French name meaning ruler of the elves, it was exclusively male for centuries before crossing to the girls' column in the early 2000s. Today it's one of America's most popular girl names — a name that sounds contemporary but carries a thousand years of history.

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Avery at a glance
MeaningRuler of elves, wise counsellor
OriginOld French / Germanic
GenderFemale
Syllables3
NumerologyLife Path 8
US Rank (today)#20
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Why parents love Avery
  • It sounds modern and fresh without being invented or trendy.
  • The meaning ruler of the elves has a magical, fairy-tale quality.
  • Two syllables with an open A — bright and confident.
  • It works equally well for a child or an adult professional.
  • The gender-neutral quality appeals to parents who want strength without traditional femininity.
The vibe of Avery
modernstrongbrightgender-fluidconfidentfreshmagicalapproachable
Origin & history of Avery
Germanic Alberich (elf ruler) Norman French Avery English surname given name
1
Old French / Germanic roots
Avery traces back to the Germanic Alberich, meaning ruler of the elves — the same root that gives us Aubrey and Oberon. The Normans brought it to England as a masculine name after 1066, and it became a common English surname. Its modern reinvention as a girl's name began in the 1990s and accelerated rapidly. By 2013 it had entered the girls' top 20 in the US. The name's appeal lies in its combination of soft vowel sounds with a strong, decisive ending — it manages to feel both gentle and powerful at once.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Medieval England as a masculine name from the Norman French; female usage surged after the 1990s.
3
Today
Avery remains a beloved choice, ranking #20 in the US. 230,393 babies have been named Avery since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
How popular is Avery?
2014 peak year
Avery appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 2014, 9,578 babies were named Avery (ranked #14 nationally). Today it sits in the top fifty (#20), with roughly 9,177 babies named Avery each year. Avery has been declining in recent years. In total, around 230,393 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
9,578 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #14)
9,177 Avg. per year
(last decade)
91,770 Total registrations
last 10 years
230,393 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #20) Very popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Avery
8
Life path number
The Achiever
Ambition, authority and material mastery.

Avery's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — fitting for a name that has bridged gender boundaries and found universal appeal. People named Avery tend to be empathetic, inclusive, and naturally drawn to fairness. They see the bigger picture before others do.

Naturally empathetic
Sees the bigger picture
Bridge-builder between groups
Fair and principled
Wise beyond their years
A1
V4
E5
R9
Y7
Sum: 26 → Life path 8
Personality of Avery
💼
Built for success
They don't dream of achievement — they plan for it.
👑
Commanding presence
They walk in and people notice.
🔑
Strategic mind
Always three moves ahead.
💎
Unbreakable
Setbacks sharpen them. Resilience is in their DNA.
Names that sound like Avery

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Names that combine with Avery

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Avery.

Middle names for Avery

The right middle name turns Avery into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Avery is a beautiful choice.
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