"strong, healthy, from the Latin valere"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
Valerie
Pronunciation: [ v-AL-er-ee ]
Does Valerie flow with your last name?
Latin strength, French elegance, Amy Winehouse cool
French
English
American
Latin
Classic
Elegant
Vintage
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Valerie
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Valerie
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"brave, strong"
Origin: French from Latin
Language: French
"to be strong, to be healthy"
Origin: Latin valere
Language: English
"valor, strength"
Origin: Latin Valerius
Language: Latin
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Valerie
See all →What the Valerie report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Valerie the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Valerie
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Valerie head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Valerie actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Valerie
Valerie comes from the Latin 'Valeria,' the feminine form of the Roman family name Valerius, derived from 'valere' — to be strong, to be healthy. The same root gives us 'valor,' 'valid,' 'Valentine,' and 'convalescent.' The name was borne by several early Christian martyrs, including Saint Valeria of Milan, and spread throughout the Roman-influenced world. It became particularly fashionable in France, where Valérie became a classic feminine name before crossing to English-speaking countries.
Valerie peaked in American popularity during the 1950s-70s, when it frequently ranked in the top 50. The name has never fallen out of use but occupies a 'vintage elegant' category now — familiar but not fashionable in the way of current trends. The song 'Valerie' by Steve Winwood (1982) and the 2007 cover by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson have kept the name in cultural consciousness.
Valerie carries strong mid-century American and French cultural associations. In France, Valérie is a mainstream classic. The Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson version of 'Valerie' became one of the defining songs of the 2000s, giving the name an indelible musical identity for a generation.
Historical Record
Valerie first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 249,887 babies have been named Valerie in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Valerie is past its peak , currently ranked #147 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson version of Valerie reached #2 in the UK in 2007
- The Latin root 'valere' (to be strong) also gives us the words valor, value, valid, and Valentine
- Valerie was a top-50 US baby name for 20 consecutive years from 1955 to 1975
Valerie in Other Languages
French
Valérie
German
Valerie
Italian
Valeria
Russian
Валерия (Valeriya)
Spanish
Valeria
Romanian
Valeria
Popularity Over Time
#147
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1959
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Valerie
V
Valerie June
Musician
1982
American singer-songwriter known for Americana and soul music
V
Valerie Bertinelli
Actor
1960
American actress known for One Day at a Time and Hot in Cleveland
V
Valerie Harper
Actor
1939
American actress known for Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show
V
Valerie (Josie and the Pussycats) Fictional
Other
One of the founding members of the fictional band Josie and the Pussycats, known for her musical talent
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Savannah
Girl
"flat plain"
#107
Samantha
Girl
"flower name, antha suffix"
#127
Ariel
Girl
"altar of God, hearth of God"
#300
Avery
Girl
"elf power"
#31
Aurora
Girl
"the dawn goddess"
#16
Compare Valerie with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #147
- Total SSA Count
- 1,985
- Cultural Origins
- French English American Latin
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Val
Valli
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, French heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Valerie
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Valerie fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Valerie is also used as a boy name, ranked #23484.
View Valerie as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Valerie →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Valerie with...
Same Origin Names (French)
See all French names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Valerie
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Valerie and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Valerie sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Savannah
Girl
Spanish origin
"flat plain"
#107 in US
Samantha
Girl
Greek origin
"flower name, antha suffix"
#127 in US
Ariel
Girl
Hebrew origin
"altar of God, hearth of God"
#300 in US
Avery
Girl
Norman French origin
"elf power"
#31 in US
Aurora
Girl
Roman mythology origin
"the dawn goddess"
#16 in US
Olivia
Girl
Symbolic origin
"peace, fruitfulness"
#1 in US
Lila
Girl
Arabic/Hebrew origin
"night"
#207 in US
Sara
Girl
Hebrew origin
"princess, noblewoman"
#187 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Valerie's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Valerie
What does the name Valerie mean?
"strong, healthy, from the Latin valere" (from Latin). "brave, strong" (from French from Latin). "to be strong, to be healthy" (from Latin valere). "valor, strength" (from Latin Valerius). Valerie comes from the Latin 'Valeria,' the feminine form of the Roman family name Valerius, derived from 'valere' — to be strong, to be healthy. The same root gives us 'valor,' 'valid,' 'Valentine,' and 'convalescent.' The name was borne by several early Christian martyrs, including Saint Valeria of Milan, and spread throughout the Roman-influenced world. It became particularly fashionable in France, where Valérie became a classic feminine name before crossing to English-speaking countries.
What is the origin of the name Valerie?
Valerie has Latin, French from Latin, Latin valere, Latin Valerius, French, English, and American origins. In Latin, it means "strong, healthy, from the Latin valere". In French from Latin, it means "brave, strong". In Latin valere, it means "to be strong, to be healthy". In Latin Valerius, it means "valor, strength".
Is Valerie a boy or girl name?
Valerie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #147. As a boy name, it is ranked #23484. Valerie is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Valerie?
Valerie is pronounced v-AL-er-ee.
How popular is the name Valerie?
Valerie is currently ranked #147 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Valerie?
Common nicknames for Valerie include Val and Valli.
What are good middle names for Valerie?
Popular middle name pairings include Valerie Anne, Valerie Rose, Valerie Elizabeth, Valerie Marie, Valerie Jane, Valerie Grace, and Valerie Catherine.
What are good sibling names for Valerie?
Names that pair well with Valerie as siblings include Vivienne, Genevieve, Dominic, Julian, Beatrice, Claudia, and Andre.
How many syllables does Valerie have?
Valerie has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Valerie a common or rare name?
Valerie is a popular name, ranked #147 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Valerie?
About the Name Valerie
Valerie is a girl name with French, English, American, and Latin origins . The name means "strong, healthy, from the Latin valere" in Latin .
Is Valerie a boy or girl name? Valerie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #147 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #23,484. Valerie is more commonly used as a girl name.
Valerie is currently ranked #147 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Valerie has 3 syllables and is pronounced v-AL-er-ee, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Valerie include Val and Valli. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Valerie include Valentina, Valeria, Valery, Valencia, Valentine . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Latin Names
Browse all names with this origin
V
Names Starting with V
More girl names like Valerie
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis