Valerie is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "valere," which means "to be strong" or "to be healthy." The name Valerie was first used as a female form of the masculine name Valerius, which was derived from the Latin word "valere."
The name Valerius was quite popular during the Roman Empire, and it was often given to children who were believed to have been born with strength and vigor. As time passed, the female form of the name, Valerie, began to be used more frequently.
In medieval Europe, Valerie became associated with a legendary saint named Saint Valentine. According to legend, Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who secretly married couples during a time when Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage for young men. When he was discovered and arrested, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter, Julia. Before his execution, he cured her of blindness with his prayers, and they exchanged vows. In some versions of the legend, Julia was named Valentina or Valerie.
Throughout history, the name Valerie has been associated with strength, courage, and love. Today, it is still a popular choice for parents looking for a strong yet feminine name for their daughters. Despite its historical ties to Saint Valentine's Day, the name Valerie is not exclusively linked to that particular holiday. Instead, it stands on its own as a beautiful and meaningful name with a rich history behind it.
Sources:
* Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/name/valerie
* Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?nam=Valerie
* The Spruce: https://www.thespruce.com/facts-about-the-name-valerie-3916328
The name Valerie experienced significant popularity fluctuations over time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 50 births per year until the 1940s. However, starting in the mid-20th century, its popularity surged dramatically. Between 1946 and 1959 alone, the number of annual births named Valerie increased from around 1,500 to nearly 7,300, peaking at over 7,300 in 1959.
Following this peak, Valerie's popularity began a gradual decline, dropping below 4,000 births per year by the late 1960s. This downward trend continued until the early 1980s, with fewer than 2,000 babies named Valerie born annually between 1973 and 1985.
However, in recent decades, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity. After reaching a low of around 1,800 births per year in the mid-1990s, Valerie's popularity rebounded, with over 2,000 babies named Valerie born annually between 1995 and 2016.
Overall, according to the provided statistics, a total of 268,997 babies were named Valerie from 1884 to 2023.