How to say it
VAL · e · rie
ˈvæl.ə.ri
Feminine
Valerie
Strong, healthy
What it means
Feminine of Latin Valerius, from valere ('to be strong, healthy'). Same root as English 'value' and 'valor.' Steve Winwood's 1982 song Valerie, then Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse's 2007 cover, kept the name in continuous pop-music circulation.
Valerie comes from the Latin Valeria, feminine of Valerius, the Roman gens name from valere ('to be strong, healthy'). Same root as English 'value,' 'valor,' and 'valiant.' Saint Valerie of Limoges was a 3rd-century martyr (her cult is centered in Limousin). Steve Winwood's 1982 song Valerie, then Mark Ronson's 2007 cover featuring Amy Winehouse, gave the name continuous pop-music currency. Valerie Plame (the outed CIA officer, 2003) and Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time, 1975-1984) cover other anchors. The English Valerie peaked in the mid-20th century and has been sliding gently. Common shorts: Val, Vallie.
How to spell Valerie
The standard spelling is Valerie. Common variants include Valeria, Valéria, but Valerie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #60 in 1959, currently #127 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Amy Winehouse's Valerie cover (2007 with Mark Ronson) is the dominant Gen-Y/Z anchor; the original Steve Winwood version (1982) is the Gen-X reference.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Valerie Bertinelli American actress, One Day at a Time and Hot in Cleveland
- Valerie Plame American author and former CIA officer, outed by the Plame affair in 2003
Spelling variants
- Valeria
- Valéria
Names with the same feeling
See Valerie from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Valerie mean?
- Feminine of Latin Valerius, from valere ('to be strong, healthy'). Same root as English 'value' and 'valor.' Steve Winwood's 1982 song Valerie, then Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse's 2007 cover, kept the name in continuous pop-music circulation.
- What does Valerie mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Valerie means "Strong, healthy." Valerie comes from the Latin Valeria, feminine of Valerius, the Roman gens name from valere ('to be strong, healthy'). Same root as English 'value,' 'valor,' and 'valiant.' Saint Valerie of Limoges was a 3rd-century martyr (her cult is centered in Limousin). Steve Winwood's 1982 song Valerie, then Mark Ronson's 2007 cover featuring Amy Winehouse, gave the name continuous pop-music currency. Valerie Plame (the outed CIA officer, 2003) and Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time, 1975-1984) cover other anchors. The English Valerie peaked in the mid-20th century and has been sliding gently. Common shorts: Val, Vallie.
- How do you pronounce Valerie?
- Valerie is pronounced ˈvæl.ə.ri. Say it as VAL-e-rie, with the stress on the "val" syllable.
- How do you spell Valerie?
- The standard spelling is Valerie. Common spelling variants include Valeria, Valéria.
- Is Valerie a boy or girl name?
- Valerie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Valerie?
- Valerie ranked #127 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.