The first name Avery
A unisex name from French meaning “elf”, “counsel”.
Pronounced /ˈeɪ.və.ɹi/ 3 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
French origin
Avery means “elf”, “counsel” in French.
From Anglo-Norman Averay, Auveray, Alverey, from Latin Alveredus, Aluredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from ælf (“elf”) and ræd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfred.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 178 girls were named Avery, making it the 261st most popular girls’ name.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Avery with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Avery at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5,267 girls born in the United States were named Avery, the 37th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2014, when 9,578 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Avereigh
- Avareigh
- Avary
- Avreigh
Famous people named Avery
18 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Avery BrooksAmerican actor and director, born 1948
- Avery BradleyAmerican basketball player (born 1990)
- Avery DullesCatholic cardinal (1918–2008)
- Avery JohnsonAmerican basketball player and coach, born 1965
- Avery SkinnerAmerican volleyball player, born 1999
- Avery CormanAmerican writer, born 1935
- Avery SchreiberAmerican comedian, 1935–2002
- Marshall Avery HoweAmerican curator and botanist (1867-1936)
- Avery HopwoodAmerican playwright (1882–1928)
- Avery FisherAmerican audio specialist (1906-1994)
- Bella ThorneAmerican actress and singer (born 1997)
- Troian BellisarioAmerican actress, born 1985
More French unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Avery mean?
- Avery means “elf”, “counsel” in French.
- What is the origin of the name Avery?
- From Anglo-Norman Averay, Auveray, Alverey, from Latin Alveredus, Aluredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from ælf (“elf”) and ræd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfred.
- How popular is the name Avery?
- In 2025, 178 girls born in England and Wales were named Avery, ranking 261st.
- Is Avery a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 236,886 US babies named Avery since 1880, 72% were girls and 28% boys.
- When was Avery most popular?
- 2014 in the United States, when 9,578 babies were named Avery, its highest rank at 14th.
- How do you pronounce Avery?
- Avery is /ˈeɪ.və.ɹi/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Avery?
- Avereigh, Avareigh, Avary and Avreigh.
- Is Avery also a surname?
- Yes. Avery is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.