Avery Name Meaning

The name Avery is an English and French name meaning "ruler of elves." It's derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Alfred and the Ancient Germanic name Alberich. Its meaning stems from the elements aelf, meaning "elf" and ric, meaning "ruler." Avery was mainly used for boys until around 2007, when it broke into the top 50 names for baby girls in the U.S.

How Popular is The Name Avery?

The unique appeal of Avery has always captured the attention of parents, but it wasn't until the early 2000s that its popularity really began to take off. While the name is historically masculine, more and more girls in the United States have been given the name.

The Social Security Administration's latest data from 2020 reveals it as the 19th most popular name for girls and the 212th most popular name for boys. Avery's biggest year for girls was in 2013 when it sat at No. 12, and it has consistently ranked in the top 20 names since.

The entertainment industry almost certainly played a role in Avery's popularity, as well. In 2010, the popular TV comedy "30 Rock" introduced the character of reporter Avery Jessup (actress Elizabeth Banks), while heart-breaker Avery Barkley (actor Jonathan Jackson) became a favorite on the musical drama "Nashville."

Name Variations

Variations of the name Avery include:

• Averey (English)
• Averi (English)
• Avary (English)
• Averie (English)
• Avry (English)

Similar Names

Other names that sound similar to Avery:

• Amy
• Avah
• Aven
• Avi
• Emery
• Emory
• Eva
• Everly
• Evie
• Ivory
• Ivy

Other gender-neutral names starting with A:

• Asher
• Aubrey
• Ashley
• Anderson
• Ashton
• Arley
• Aidan
• Alex
• Andy

Common Nicknames

The most common nicknames for Avery include:

• Ave or Aves: Your little Ave or Aves is spunky, enthusiastic, and a giant ball of fun rolled into one short, sweet name!
• Avie: Suggests a natural-born leader! Avie may be focused and ambitious, but they're also friendly, caring, and always ready to help others.

Suggested Sibling Names

Some possible sibling names for Avery include:

• Amelia
• Anthony
• Audrey
• Austin
• Ava
• Carly
• Emery
• Oliver
• Owen
• Olivia
• Riley

Famous People Named Avery

Famous people with the name Avery:

• Avery Bradley, American NBA basketball player for the Houston Rockets
• Avery Johnson, American basketball coach, most recently for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team
• Avery Brooks, American actor known for his role as Captain Benjamin Sisko on the TV series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

Famous fictional characters named Avery:

• Avery Arable, Fern's older brother in "Charlotte's Web"
• Avery I and Avery II, two minor characters in the "Harry Potter" series
• Avery Barkley, a music producer and musician on the TV musical drama "Nashville"
• Avery Jessup, a no-nonsense reporter on the TV comedy "30 Rock"