Fun Facts About the Name Valerie
- A favorite of earlier generations: Valerie appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 36 years. Its last run lasted 16 consecutive years, from 1972 through 1987.
- More than 273 thousand babies named Valerie: U.S. records list 273,911 babies given the name Valerie from 1880 through 2025. Even 693 boys received the name Valerie - about 1 boy for every 394 girls.
What Does the Name Valerie Mean?
Valerie is the French form of the Latin name Valeria, the feminine of Valerius. Valerius was a Roman family name (a nomen) formed from the Latin verb valere, "to be strong, to be well, to be healthy." The literal sense of the root is therefore "strong" or "healthy," and that is the meaning the name carries.
Because it began as a family name, the feminine Valeria was created from the masculine Valerius in the usual Roman way, by giving a woman's form to the clan name. Later symbolic readings, such as "valiant" or "brave" in modern descriptions, are looser interpretations of the same root rather than a separate etymology.
Valerie Name History & Origins
The Latin Valeria comes from the Valerii, one of the oldest and most widespread Roman clans, whose members appear throughout the Roman Republic and Empire. The feminine form was used as a personal name in its own right; the best-known bearer in Roman records is Valeria Messalina, wife of the emperor Claudius.
From Latin the name spread into the Romance languages. In French it became Valérie. Devotion to Saint Valerie of Limoges, a martyr of the early Christian period in Gaul, was long established in central and southwestern France, and her cult encouraged use of the name there. The story of Valerie of Limoges, who is said to have been beheaded and to have carried her own head, is a hagiographic legend rather than a documented historical account.
The English form Valerie follows the French. The name also took separate national forms, including Italian and Spanish Valeria, Russian Valeriya (Валерия), and Polish Waleria. An early nineteenth-century literary use appears in the French novel Valérie (1803) by Julie de Krüdener, an example of the name's presence in print rather than its origin.
How Popular is the Name Valerie?
Valerie ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1951 through 1970, then returned in 1972 and remained through 1987.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #127 | 2,221 | 0.1382% |
| 2024 | #147 | 1,985 | 0.1230% |
| 2023 | #145 | 1,951 | 0.1217% |
| 2022 | #148 | 1,986 | 0.1212% |
| 2021 | #155 | 1,840 | 0.1122% |
| 2020 | #144 | 1,881 | 0.1164% |
| 2019 | #151 | 1,890 | 0.1127% |
| 2018 | #156 | 1,801 | 0.1059% |
| 2017 | #167 | 1,824 | 0.1057% |
| 2016 | #160 | 1,966 | 0.1110% |
| 2015 | #171 | 1,880 | 0.1053% |
| 2014 | #176 | 1,886 | 0.1056% |
| 2013 | #169 | 1,880 | 0.1072% |
| 2012 | #169 | 1,863 | 0.1058% |
| 2011 | #159 | 1,957 | 0.1113% |
| 2010 | #149 | 2,065 | 0.1162% |
| 2009 | #138 | 2,321 | 0.1264% |
| 2008 | #135 | 2,505 | 0.1325% |
| 2007 | #144 | 2,424 | 0.1261% |
| 2006 | #127 | 2,752 | 0.1448% |
| 2005 | #167 | 2,035 | 0.1101% |
| 2004 | #180 | 1,905 | 0.1038% |
| 2003 | #171 | 1,913 | 0.1047% |
| 2002 | #155 | 2,107 | 0.1173% |
| 2001 | #165 | 1,982 | 0.1101% |
| 2000 | #166 | 2,017 | 0.1111% |
| 1999 | #159 | 2,038 | 0.1149% |
| 1998 | #148 | 2,142 | 0.1212% |
| 1997 | #143 | 2,224 | 0.1278% |
| 1996 | #154 | 2,082 | 0.1188% |
| 1995 | #149 | 2,182 | 0.1241% |
| 1994 | #159 | 2,010 | 0.1126% |
| 1993 | #144 | 2,175 | 0.1202% |
| 1992 | #136 | 2,350 | 0.1274% |
| 1991 | #135 | 2,380 | 0.1269% |
| 1990 | #129 | 2,428 | 0.1279% |
| 1989 | #117 | 2,562 | 0.1390% |
| 1988 | #103 | 2,768 | 0.1554% |
| 1987 | #93 | 2,964 | 0.1705% |
| 1986 | #76 | 3,618 | 0.2109% |
| 1985 | #71 | 3,881 | 0.2255% |
| 1984 | #76 | 3,722 | 0.2210% |
| 1983 | #74 | 3,902 | 0.2336% |
| 1982 | #75 | 3,989 | 0.2356% |
| 1981 | #89 | 3,611 | 0.2165% |
| 1980 | #85 | 3,613 | 0.2176% |
| 1979 | #89 | 3,407 | 0.2122% |
| 1978 | #92 | 3,299 | 0.2154% |
| 1977 | #86 | 3,265 | 0.2130% |
| 1976 | #83 | 3,386 | 0.2311% |
| 1975 | #92 | 3,227 | 0.2213% |
| 1974 | #93 | 3,182 | 0.2168% |
| 1973 | #96 | 3,042 | 0.2086% |
| 1972 | #100 | 3,193 | 0.2099% |
| 1971 | #102 | 3,680 | 0.2212% |
| 1970 | #97 | 4,130 | 0.2362% |
| 1969 | #85 | 4,298 | 0.2548% |
| 1968 | #77 | 4,552 | 0.2775% |
| 1967 | #73 | 4,757 | 0.2881% |
| 1966 | #74 | 4,815 | 0.2845% |
| 1965 | #67 | 5,649 | 0.3200% |
| 1964 | #66 | 6,616 | 0.3492% |
| 1963 | #69 | 6,173 | 0.3203% |
| 1962 | #67 | 6,335 | 0.3221% |
| 1961 | #67 | 6,675 | 0.3307% |
| 1960 | #65 | 6,717 | 0.3322% |
| 1959 | #60 | 7,304 | 0.3610% |
| 1958 | #64 | 6,919 | 0.3440% |
| 1957 | #76 | 6,231 | 0.3047% |
| 1956 | #80 | 5,910 | 0.2944% |
| 1955 | #80 | 5,512 | 0.2819% |
| 1954 | #87 | 4,917 | 0.2532% |
| 1953 | #88 | 4,591 | 0.2440% |
| 1952 | #87 | 4,263 | 0.2299% |
| 1951 | #100 | 3,559 | 0.1976% |
| 1950 | #116 | 3,026 | 0.1766% |
| 1949 | #108 | 3,052 | 0.1784% |
| 1948 | #135 | 2,132 | 0.1256% |
| 1947 | #184 | 1,553 | 0.0876% |
| 1946 | #181 | 1,440 | 0.0916% |
| 1945 | #189 | 1,079 | 0.0825% |
| 1944 | #216 | 915 | 0.0689% |
| 1943 | #212 | 955 | 0.0684% |
| 1942 | #200 | 1,017 | 0.0753% |
| 1941 | #229 | 752 | 0.0622% |
| 1940 | #214 | 799 | 0.0699% |
| 1939 | #251 | 622 | 0.0567% |
| 1938 | #267 | 551 | 0.0499% |
| 1937 | #279 | 494 | 0.0464% |
| 1936 | #283 | 453 | 0.0435% |
| 1935 | #276 | 486 | 0.0463% |
| 1934 | #354 | 319 | 0.0305% |
| 1933 | #374 | 293 | 0.0291% |
| 1932 | #394 | 276 | 0.0259% |
| 1931 | #413 | 244 | 0.0229% |
| 1930 | #452 | 222 | 0.0197% |
| 1929 | #504 | 180 | 0.0161% |
| 1928 | #518 | 179 | 0.0155% |
| 1927 | #500 | 195 | 0.0164% |
| 1926 | #535 | 171 | 0.0144% |
| 1925 | #588 | 151 | 0.0124% |
| 1924 | #558 | 172 | 0.0138% |
| 1923 | #580 | 155 | 0.0128% |
| 1922 | #594 | 147 | 0.0122% |
| 1921 | #516 | 190 | 0.0154% |
| 1920 | #546 | 170 | 0.0142% |
| 1919 | #521 | 171 | 0.0151% |
| 1918 | #472 | 202 | 0.0174% |
| 1917 | #489 | 182 | 0.0168% |
| 1916 | #476 | 179 | 0.0171% |
| 1915 | #473 | 171 | 0.0174% |
| 1914 | #552 | 103 | 0.0135% |
| 1913 | #467 | 116 | 0.0186% |
| 1912 | #520 | 87 | 0.0156% |
| 1911 | #563 | 58 | 0.0139% |
| 1910 | #637 | 45 | 0.0113% |
| 1909 | #565 | 47 | 0.0135% |
| 1908 | #741 | 28 | 0.0084% |
| 1907 | #690 | 31 | 0.0097% |
| 1906 | #741 | 25 | 0.0085% |
| 1905 | #730 | 25 | 0.0086% |
| 1904 | #680 | 27 | 0.0098% |
| 1903 | #860 | 17 | 0.0065% |
| 1902 | #817 | 19 | 0.0072% |
| 1901 | #767 | 19 | 0.0079% |
| 1900 | #830 | 21 | 0.0070% |
| 1899 | #978 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1898 | #748 | 21 | 0.0081% |
| 1897 | #824 | 16 | 0.0068% |
| 1896 | #1,044 | 11 | 0.0046% |
| 1895 | #743 | 19 | 0.0081% |
| 1894 | #741 | 17 | 0.0076% |
| 1893 | #1,014 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1892 | #952 | 11 | 0.0052% |
| 1891 | #836 | 12 | 0.0065% |
| 1890 | #822 | 12 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #797 | 12 | 0.0067% |
| 1888 | #1,460 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| 1887 | #1,030 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1884 | #847 | 8 | 0.0062% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | #11,391 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #9,888 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #12,666 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #7,600 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #10,484 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,293 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #8,813 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #7,591 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #5,914 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #3,594 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #4,510 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #5,188 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #3,715 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #2,881 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #2,938 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #2,947 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #2,669 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #2,703 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #3,209 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #2,109 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1979 | #2,233 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #2,919 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #2,783 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #3,465 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #3,231 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #2,935 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #2,398 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1972 | #2,072 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,808 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #2,732 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #3,049 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #3,096 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #1,902 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #2,458 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #1,916 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,537 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,528 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #1,711 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #1,775 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,202 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #2,106 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #1,951 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,884 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #2,490 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,545 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #3,800 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #2,700 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #2,667 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,222 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #2,760 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #2,599 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #4,162 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #3,408 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #2,853 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #4,015 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Valerie
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Valerie Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Valerie's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Valerie's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.