Valerie is a female given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "valere," which means "to be strong" or "to be healthy." The name Valerie has been used since the Middle Ages and was particularly popular in France during the 19th century. It gained further popularity worldwide after being featured in various literary works, such as George Sand's novel "Valentine," published in 1832. Today, Valerie remains a popular choice for parents looking for a strong and meaningful name for their daughters.
Statistics on the Name Valerie:
The name Valerie has seen varying levels of popularity over the years in the United States, with notable fluctuations from decade to decade.
From 1936 to 1940, there were consistently low numbers of births for girls named Valerie, ranging from 5 to 8 births per year. However, starting from 1949, there was a significant increase in its popularity, with 10 births recorded in both 1952 and 1953.
The peak of popularity for the name Valerie came during the late 1950s to early 1960s. Between 1957 and 1962, there were more than 20 births each year for girls named Valerie, with a high of 23 births in 1962.
However, this popularity was short-lived, as the number of births for girls named Valerie dropped significantly in the following years. Between 1963 and 1975, there were consistently fewer than 20 births per year, with some years even dipping below 10.
Interestingly, despite the decline in popularity, the name Valerie experienced a brief resurgence in the late 1970s to early 1980s. Between 1979 and 1983, there were more than 20 births each year for girls named Valerie, with a high of 26 births in 1980.
After this resurgence, the popularity of the name Valerie declined once again. From 1984 onwards, the number of births for girls named Valerie consistently remained below 20 per year, with some years even dropping below 10. The most recent data available (up to 2005) shows that the name Valerie has largely fallen out of fashion, with only 6 or fewer births recorded each year.
In total, between 1936 and 2005, there were 693 girls named Valerie born in the United States. This statistic reflects the varying levels of popularity for this name over time, demonstrating that while it once enjoyed periods of significant popularity, it has since fallen out of favor.