It was quite common in the Middle Ages, but had lost favour for a time before experiencing a resurgence of popularity in the 19th century.
[1][3] In the United States, following the 1973 release of the song Aubrey, by the band Bread, Aubrey began to be commonly used as a given name for girls, potentially influenced by its similarity to Audrey.
[4] Aubrey is from the Norman French derivation Aubry of the Germanic given name Alberic / Old High German given name Alberich,[6] which consists of the elements alb 'elf' and ric 'power' or 'ruler',[1][7] Before being largely replaced by Aubrey after the Norman Conquest of England, the Anglo-Saxons used the native form Ælfrīc.
[1] The mediaeval feminine name Aubrée, independently derived from the Germanic name Alberada, was common in Normandy and Post-Conquest England.
[8][9] However, it had fallen out of use entirely by the 15th century and appears to be unconnected with modern usage of Aubrey.