Valeri is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Valerius. This name was popular among ancient Romans due to its association with strength and valor, as it comes from the Latin word 'valere', meaning 'to be strong' or 'to be well'. In medieval Europe, Valeri was also used as a given name in several languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Today, Valeri is still used as a given name in various countries around the world, with its popularity varying by region. It has been particularly popular in Eastern Europe, notably in Bulgaria, where it ranks among the top 10 male names. Valeri can also be considered a unisex name, although it is more commonly associated with males. Some famous individuals named Valeri include Valeri Lobanovskyi, a prominent Ukrainian football manager and player, and Valeri Bure, a Russian-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player. The name Valeri has several variant spellings and forms, such as Valerii, Valerie, Valerio, Valery, and Valerian. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed over the centuries, but it remains a strong and enduring name choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their child.
The name Valeri experienced significant popularity from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, with a peak of 53 births in 1959. However, its popularity sharply declined thereafter, with fewer than 30 births per year from the late 1970s onwards. Since 2012, there have been fewer than 15 Valeri births annually, with some years seeing as few as 8 or 9. The total number of babies named Valeri between 1948 and 2023 is 1910.