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Valley

♀ Girl

Pronounced VAL-ee /ˈvæl.i/Medium

Meaning: A modern English nature name from the word 'valley', a low area of land between hills or mountains, from Old French 'valee'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Valley is a modern English nature name taken straight from the word for a low stretch of land between hills, from Old French 'valee'.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningA modern English nature name from the word 'valley', a low area of land between hills or mountains, from Old French 'valee'.
U.S. rank (2024)#1520 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births142 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 668

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202418882024

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

History & Origin

This is a nature name in the most direct sense, drawn from the everyday word 'valley', a low area between hills or mountains. The word itself comes from the Old French 'valee'. As a given name it joins the wave of landscape-inspired choices favored by American parents.

The familiar word and gentle double-l give it an easy, recognizable sound. It paints a calm, open-country image without leaning on any older naming tradition.

Did you know? Valley likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Valley — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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If you like Valley…

Brooke— another English landscape word used as a girls' name
Meadow— a nature name evoking the same open, pastoral scene
Sierra— a landscape name from the mountains Valley sits between

Frequently Asked

What does the name Valley mean?

Valley is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Valley?

It's commonly said VAL-ee /ˈvæl.i/.

Is Valley a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Valley is used as a girl name.

How popular is Valley?

In 2024, Valley ranked #1520 in the U.S. for girls, with 142 births recorded.