The aughts is a way of referring to the decade 2000 to 2009 in American English. The equivalent term used in British English is the noughties. These arise from the words aught and nought respectively, both meaning zero.

What are the early aughts?

aughts, the first decade of any century, especially the years 1900 through 1909 or 2000 through 2009.

What did aught mean?

1 : zero, cipher. 2 archaic : nonentity, nothing.