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I personally like it, but I don't think I'd use it because I'd be worried they'd be relentlessly teased by ignorant people who don't understand the concept of unisex names.
Someone pointed out Drake was named Aubrey, but obviously stopped going by this name, and I've heard males make fun of his given name.

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I also knew a Leslie in high school who I recall being told that he had a girl's name and by college he changed it to Trey. I always thought Leslie was a perfectly good boys' name, and it was silly that he felt pressured to change it.

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Then again, I know a male Precious who wears his name well, but his family is from Nigeria and he is massive in size, so people don't bother him about it.

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If you love it enough, I support it, but you definitely have to mentally prepared to constantly explain to others the concept of a unisex name.

It sounds too similar to Audrey, in my opinion, so it might be overly feminine on a boy. Avery would be a nice alternative, though.

ah, I have this same internal debate about the name Morgan. I adore Aubrey for a boy. I would go for it!

I think it would work, but I remember overhearing someone calling a kid named Auburn "Aubrey" and he was like "how did you think my name was Aubrey, that's a girls name" so maybe the non-namenerd populace thinks it's swung too far to the girl side.

I hate it for both genders, but it definitely would be a burden for a boy.

I like it. It's much more interesting for a boy IMO. It is popular enough on girls that it could be a pain to carry, though I knew a few male Ashleys and Kellys growing up and they seemed to carry their names all right despite the popularity of those names with girls at the time. I'm in favor.

It's quite a handsome little name. I follow a blogger on YouTube named Sarah Lemkus and her youngest is a little boy named Aubrey. They live in NZ, so it's a bit different, but I think it works well.

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Along the same lines, I know a little boy named Addison, and it wears well for him. No one has ever even mentioned that it's more common for girls.

I love Aubrey for a boy. I think that it is uncommon enough, even on girls, that it would not be seen as being only a girl's name.

I think it works just fine for a boy. It never hurts to make a suggestion, so go ahead and bring it up, with him.

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ETA: Oops, too late.

This message was edited 5/9/2020, 8:06 AM

Thanks all!

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Asked DH, he wasn't a fan even without knowing how much the gender swing has happened.

I used to work with a little boy, he was about 6 or 7 at the time, and his name is Aubre. He's the only Aubre(y), I've known so in my mind I associate it as a boy's name so I think it works great for a boy.

I hate the idea that any name could swing too far feminine to be usable, people use boys names on girls all the time and people barely bat an eye, but a traditionally male name that has been used on girls is suddenly tainted. Personally, I would still use it as a middle name, I have it on my list. One of my favourite combos is Eamonn Aubrey.

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Anecdotal, but my husband has a name that is more predominately female and has never had an issue with his name.

I like it more for boys.

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I haven't come across more girl Aubreys than boy Aubreys...or if I have, it was something like 2 vs 1...but maybe that's because I don't have kids.

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I don't think Morgan would be a pain for boys, and the popularity chart for that looks similar, although about 10 years ahead of Aubrey.

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I don't think it's in the same category as Ashley, which was in the top 10 for girls for over 20 years. I get a vibe more like Ashton or Adrian from Aubrey.

This message was edited 5/9/2020, 6:49 AM

I’ve only known girls by this name. Its -ey ending feminizes it for me and I’m sure for others, too since there tends to be more female Aubreys. It’s very similar to the female name Audrey, too. I went to school with two boys named Ashley. They hated having the name Ashley when so many girls had the same name.

It’s masculine enough on its own, I’m more bothered that it’s so close to Audrey.

I always think boy when I see Aubrey because it is the name of the rapper Drake. It helps that I've never met or heard of anyone else named Aubrey.

I think it would be a pain to carry. Aubrey hasn't been in the top thousand for boys since 2002, and it's #36 for girls. If that isn't the definition of "swung far enough to the girl side" I don't know what is. I advise against it.

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My husband was given a nickname that became popular for girls as a full name when he was entering his teens, and he did not like that at all. To the point that he chose to stop going by that nickname. I have a great-niece name Aubrie. So that's full disclosure of the things that may be influencing me.

This message was edited 5/9/2020, 5:25 AM

Yes!

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I absolutely adore Aubrey for a boy. Auberon "Aubrey" was always in my mind for a boy if we had one. I think it's so strong and handsome, i'd still use it for a boy even if it was in the top 20 for girls.

It's an interesting name, but my first reaction was that it was defnitely a feminine name. However, androgynous style is becoming more popular, so I think the feminine/masculine distinction in names might change in the coming years!

I don’t know anyone named Aubrey, so I can’t answer that question for you.

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I’ve always loved the name Aubrey for a boy. It’s on my list for years now. Personally I’d pair it with a strong masculine middle name. I love the combo Aubrey Zachariah.

Ha! I almost made this very post yesterday.

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It's a good name. I don't know that I'd use it, but I definitely support you using it. I love it with your boys' names.

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I don't think it's too feminine. I don't hear it a whole lot for either sex anymore.