Home › Baby Names Directory › Valentina

Valentina

♀ Girl

Pronounced val-en-TEE-nuh /ˌvæləntˈiːnə/High

Meaning: Strong, healthy, vigorous — feminine of Valentinus, from Latin valens (strong, healthy)High

In 30 seconds: A romantic Latin name meaning 'strong and healthy,' the feminine of Valentine. Valentina has climbed into the U.S. top 50, a sweeping choice beloved across Latin America.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighLatin
MeaningStrong, healthy, vigorous — feminine of Valentinus, from Latin valens (strong, healthy)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 33,243

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201718972017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Valentina is the feminine form of Valentinus, derived from the Latin valens, meaning strong, healthy, or vigorous. The root is shared with Valentine, the name of the 3rd-century Christian martyr whose feast day became associated with romantic love. The feminine form Valentina was used by early Christian saints and has been common in Romance-language countries for centuries.

Valentina has long been one of the most popular girls' names in Spain, Italy, and Latin America. In the U.S. it began rising through Hispanic communities and crossed into the broader mainstream by the 2010s, entering the top 50. Its sweeping, romantic sound — four syllables ending in the musical -ina — makes it feel both grand and approachable.

Did you know? Valentina Tereshkova (1937–) became the first woman to fly in space in 1963, giving the name a pioneering, boundary-breaking association beyond its romantic connotations.

Variations

ValentineValeriaValerie

Nicknames

ValTina

Famous Bearers

  • ★Valentina Tereshkova (1937–)
    Soviet cosmonaut and the first woman to travel to space (1963).

If you like Valentina…

Victoria— equally grand, multi-syllable Latin name with a strong vowel ending
Vivienne— romantic, elegant long name with the same V-initial flair
Elena— shares the sweeping Latin feminine elegance and multilingual appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Valentina mean?

Valentina is a Latin name meaning 'strong' or 'healthy,' the feminine form of Valentinus from valens.

How do you pronounce Valentina?

It's said val-en-TEE-nuh /ˌvæləntˈiːnə/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Valentina a boy or girl name?

Valentina is used exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Valentina?

Valentina has ranked in the U.S. top 50 girls' names since the mid-2010s, driven partly by its popularity in Latin American communities.