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 US.

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 has historically been considered masculine, more and more girls in the United States have been given the name.

In 2023, Avery was ranked as the 29th most popular name for girls and the 241st most popular name for boys. So far, Avery's biggest year for girls was in 2013 when it sat at position No. 12.

The entertainment industry almost certainly played a role in Avery's popularity. In 2009, the long-running primetime medical drama Grey's Anatomy introduced the character Dr. Jackson Avery (played by actor Jesse Williams), commonly called by his last name.

Then in 2010, the popular TV comedy 30 Rock introduced the character Avery Jessup (played by actress Elizabeth Banks), while heart-breaker Avery Barkley (played by actor Jonathan Jackson) became a favorite on the musical drama Nashville around the same time.

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" include:

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

Common Nicknames for Avery

The most common nicknames for Avery include:

• Ave or Aves: Your little Ave or Aves short, sweet, and playful.
• Avie: Avie has a sing-song quality to it if you're looking for a more high-spirited nickname.

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 include:

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

Fictional Averys

Famous fictional characters named Avery include:

• Avery Arable, Fern's older brother in the book 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