Audrey

  • [ AWD-ree ]
  • English
Medieval diminutive of ÆÐELÞRYÐ. This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely. It was also borne by a character in Shakespeare's comedy 'As You Like It' (1599). At the end of the Middle Ages the name became rare due to association with the word tawdry (which was derived from St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold), but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).

?DELTRYD   female   Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðel "noble" and þryð "strength".
FULL FORMS
ENGLISH: Dreda
EQUIVALENTS
ANGLO-SAXON: Æðelþryð, Æthelthryth
ENGLISH: Audra, Audrea
MEDIEVAL ENGLISH: Aldreda, Etheldred, Etheldreda
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
ENGLISH: Audie