UK boy's name
Auberon
An English name derived from the French word "aubépine" meaning "hawthorn tree".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Auberon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Auberon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 5 births.
This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Auberon. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Auberon ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 5 boys were registered as Auberon.
- • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Auberon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3959
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
5 births
Estimated living
30
2026
Meaning
What does Auberon mean?
The name Auberon is of French origin, derived from the Old French words "aubier" meaning the white wood of a tree, and "on" meaning a person or being. The name was first used in medieval French literature and folklore, particularly in stories involving fairies and supernatural beings associated with nature.
One of the earliest and most famous references to the name Auberon comes from the 13th-century French romance "Huon of Bordeaux". In this work, Auberon is depicted as the king of the fairies, a powerful and benevolent ruler who aids the protagonist Huon in his quest. The name's association with fairy and magical beings likely contributed to its enduring appeal and usage over the centuries.
In the 16th century, the English poet Edmund Spenser featured Auberon as a character in his epic work "The Faerie Queene". In this allegorical poem, Auberon is portrayed as the husband of the fairy queen Gloriana, further cementing the name's connection to the realm of fairies and the supernatural.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Auberon was Auberon de Vere, a Norman nobleman who lived in the 11th century and was a prominent figure during the Norman conquest of England. Another notable bearer of the name was Auberon Herbert (1838-1906), an English writer, philosopher, and theorist who made significant contributions to the individualist and libertarian movements of the 19th century.
In literature, the name Auberon has been used by several authors, including William Shakespeare, who referenced the character in his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The author James Branch Cabell also featured Auberon as a character in his fantasy series "The Biography of the Life of Manuel" (1915-1920).
Other notable individuals with the name Auberon include Auberon Waugh (1939-2001), a British author and journalist, and Auberon Herbert Moluneux Anson (1887-1957), a British military officer and Member of Parliament.
Overall, the name Auberon has a rich and enduring history, with its roots firmly planted in French folklore and literature, and its associations with the mystical and supernatural world of fairies and magic. Despite its ancient origins, the name continues to be used and appreciated for its unique and evocative qualities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Auberon over time
The chart below shows babies named Auberon registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Auberon, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Auberon by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Auberon was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4260 | 25 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2020 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Auberon
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Auberon: questions and answers
How popular is the name Auberon in the UK right now?
In 2018, Auberon was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Auberon most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 5 babies registered as Auberon in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Auberon?
An English name derived from the French word "aubépine" meaning "hawthorn tree".
How many people are called Auberon in the UK?
A total of 30 babies have been registered as Auberon across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.