Aubrey in Chinese
Aubrey in Chinese is 奥布丽 (Ào Bù Lì).
- Origin
- Germanic
- Meaning
- elf ruler
Aubrey is a name of Germanic origin, generally understood to mean "elf ruler". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1889 and peaked in 2012. About 22% of US babies with this name were boys, so it is effectively unisex.
3 ways to write Aubrey
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
奥布丽
Ào Bù Lì
The standard transliteration of Aubrey: 奥 (ào, "profound, mysterious"), 布 (bù, "cloth; to proclaim"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 3 characters: 奥 ào + 布 bù + 丽 lì. The tone contour is 4-4-4 (falling, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 奥
ào
Tone 4 · 12 strokes (simplified)
profound, mysterious
- 布
bù
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
cloth; to proclaim
- 丽
lì
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, elegant
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
燕飞
Yàn Fēi
Inspired by "elf ruler": 燕 (yàn, "swallow (bird)") + 飞 (fēi, "to fly"), expressing graceful creatures and soaring flight.
Why these characters?
Because Aubrey is linked to "elf", the name leads with 燕 (swallow (bird)); 飞 (to fly) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 燕
yàn
Tone 4 · 16 strokes (simplified)
swallow (bird)
- 飞
fēi
Tone 1 · 3 strokes (simplified)
to fly
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
雁鹤
Yàn Hè
雁 (yàn, "wild goose") + 鹤 (hè, "crane"): a natural Chinese given name themed on graceful creatures and soaring flight.
Why these characters?
No attractive character closely matches "au" (ào), so 雁 ("wild goose") and 鹤 ("crane") were chosen for graceful creatures and soaring flight.
Character breakdown
27 strokes total (simplified)- 雁
yàn
Tone 4 · 12 strokes (simplified)
wild goose
- 鹤
hè
Tone 4 · 15 strokes (simplified)
crane
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Recent US usage of Aubrey
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Aubrey ranked 86 among names recorded for girls, with 17,235 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 106,290 girls named Aubrey since 1889, with the high point in 2012 (8,047 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #298 to #31 among girls.
- Peak year
- 2012
- Peak decade
- 2010s
- First year
- 1889
- Total since 1880
- 106,290
More About Aubrey in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Aubrey offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Aubrey, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for people, you might also be interested in Taylor in Chinese, Angel in Chinese, and Jamie in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Avery in Chinese, Leslie in Chinese, and Riley in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Aubrey, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Aubrey to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Aubrey in Chinese?
奥布丽 (Ào Bù Lì), or 奧布麗 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 奥布丽 have?
25 strokes in simplified form and 37 in traditional; per character: 奥 12, 布 5, 丽 8.
How popular is the name Aubrey?
US Social Security records show 106,290 girls named Aubrey since 1889, with the high point in 2012 (8,047 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #298 to #31 among girls.