Avril

Avril represents the French form of the English name April as well as the Spanish name Abril.

What does the name Avril mean?

The name Avril, a French variant of the month name April, translates to "the woman who opens gates" or more likely "spring", when the flower buds bloom. Its origin is believed to be from the Latin verb aperiō or aperīre, meaning "to open", in the sense of "the woman who opens gates" or "the blossoming of flowers" in the month of April. The use of April as a girl's name primarily began in the early 20th century. Alternatives to Avril include Apryl, Aprel, Aprilis, Aprilia, Avrillia, and Avriel.

Where does the name Avril come from?

The origin of the name Avril is both Old French and Latin, meaning "the woman who opens gates".

How do you pronounce Avril?

The sound design and pronunciation of Avril is short and concise, with a gentle, flowing beginning. The name is typically pronounced as "A-vril" [aˈvʁil] or with a French influence, which means a smooth and direct entry. The "-vril" brings a slight densification in sound that culminates in a clear finish. This makes the name appear modern and compact – soft at the beginning and clear at the end.

Popularity

In Germany, Avril is a widely used first name. In 2023, it ranked 3,880th among the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2009 at 2,111th. Over the last ten years, Avril has been chosen as a first name approximately 40 times, leading to a position of 4,401 in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it holds the 5,099th place.

Nicknames & pet names

Av / Ave / Avi / Avie / Rilli / Rilly

Famous people

• Avril Anderson (English composer)
• Avril Angers (English actress)
• Avril Benoît (journalist)
• Avril Coleridge-Taylor (British pianist)
• Avril Dankworth (1922–2013, British music educator and author)
• Avril Doyle (Irish politician)
• Avril Elgar (British actress)
• Avril Fahey (Australian cricketer)
• Avril Joy (English writer)
• Avril Lavigne (singer)