Girl name · Latin
Valerie
“strong, valiant, in good health”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Valerie.
Explore Valerie further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Valerie — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Valerie descends from the Roman gens Valeria, from valere, to be strong or well — the verb behind valid, value and convalesce, and the source of the Latin farewell vale. So the name means healthy before it means brave.
It was a US top-100 name from the 1930s through the 1980s and has eased off since without collapsing. Valeria, the Latin form, is currently the more fashionable of the two in the US.
Val is universal and era-neutral. Three syllables want one (Valerie Wren, Valerie Jane). On our vibe map it is Vintage Elegant with a Y2K Nostalgic tail.
More Latin names
Valerie sits in our Latin set — these share its roots.
All Latin names →Valerie — common questions
Is Valerie a boy or girl name?
Valerie is traditionally a girl name of Latin origin.
What does the name Valerie mean?
Valerie means “strong, valiant, in good health” of Latin origin. Valerie descends from the Roman gens Valeria, from valere, to be strong or well — the verb behind valid, value and convalesce, and the source of the Latin farewell vale. So the name means healthy before it means brave.
Where does the name Valerie come from?
Valerie is Latin in origin. It was a US top-100 name from the 1930s through the 1980s and has eased off since without collapsing. Valeria, the Latin form, is currently the more fashionable of the two in the US.
What are common nicknames for Valerie?
Val and Vali — the short-forms parents most often use for Valerie.
How popular is Valerie?
Valerie did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Valerie you might want for the nursery.