Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Valentine
UnisexLatin· “strong, healthy”
- Meaning
- strong, healthy
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- VAL-uhn-tyn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,807
- US babies 2025
- 89
- Best rank
- #366 (1894)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Valentine
Valentine is a Latin name that means “strong, healthy”.
Valentine comes from the Roman name Valentinus, from the Latin valens, "strong" or "healthy." Several early martyrs bore it, and one Saint Valentine gave his name to the February feast now tied to romantic love, a link that grew in medieval England. The name has been used for boys and girls in English, and it appears in Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona. It is said VAL-uhn-tyn. Valentine carries a romantic, slightly old-world feel, and Val is the traditional nickname.
Popularity over time
Valentine has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 73 different years. Its best national rank was #366 in 1894, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 142 were named Valentine. In 2025, 89 babies were named Valentine, and it ranked #1,807 nationally. That is 187% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #558 in 1920, #917 in 1950, #1,849 in 1980, #4,057 in 2000, #3,521 in 2010, and #1,807 in 2025. Of the 6,711 US boys named Valentine since records began, 17% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 967 babies. Since 2010, 795 more have been named Valentine.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Claudie, Maxie, Alva, Victory, and Everette.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Valentine ranked highest in Indiana, Colorado, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | #939 | 6 |
| Colorado | #952 | 5 |
| New York | #1398 | 8 |
| California | #1570 | 11 |
| Florida | #1814 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Valentine is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 46% of US babies named Valentine were girls and 54% were boys.
Valentine is usually pronounced VAL-uhn-tyn, with three syllables. It has nine letters, starts with V and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Valentine
A few middle names that flow with Valentine: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Valentine
Similar names
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Lists that include Valentine
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Valentine mean?
Valentine is a Latin name that means “strong, healthy”.
What is the origin of the name Valentine?
Valentine has Latin roots. Valentine comes from the Roman name Valentinus, from the Latin valens, "strong" or "healthy." Several early martyrs bore it, and one Saint Valentine gave his name to the February feast now tied to romantic love, a link that grew in medieval England.
Is Valentine a popular name?
Not especially. Valentine ranked #1,807 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Valentine a boy or girl name?
Valentine is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 46% of US babies named Valentine were girls and 54% were boys.
How do you pronounce Valentine?
Valentine is usually pronounced VAL-uhn-tyn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings