Auburn

Meaning & origin

Auburn entered U.S. naming records in 1920 and has since been used as a distinctive color name for girls. It peaked in 2015, but has been steadily falling in usage since 2014. In 2025, it ranked 4,352 nationally, with about 1 in 50,227 girls named Auburn. The name's appeal lies in its warm, earthy association with reddish-brown hair color, similar to other color names like Hazel and Scarlett. Though it has never cracked the top 1,000, Auburn maintains a quiet, consistent presence among parents drawn to nature-inspired, uncommon choices. Its top states of usage are not well-defined due to its rarity, but its trajectory suggests it remains a niche favorite rather than a mainstream hit.

Auburn derives from the Middle English word 'auburne,' itself from the Old French 'alborne' or 'auborne,' meaning 'blondish' or 'whitish.' Originally it referred to a pale yellowish white, but by the 16th century it had shifted to describe a rich reddish-brown hair color, influenced by the Latin 'alburnus' (white) and later association with brown. It was first used as a given name in the early 20th century, likely as an English color-name fashion.