Valerie

Valerie is a female given name of Latin origin. It derives from the masculine name Valerius and the feminine Valeria, with the meaning commonly interpreted as "strong," "healthy," or "valor." The name entered English through Old French and gained widespread use in the English-speaking world during the 19th and 20th centuries. Variants include Valérie in French, Valeria in Italian and Spanish, Valerija in several Slavic languages, and Valéria in Hungarian and Portuguese.

The name has been used across many Western countries and remains recognizable in modern times, though usage patterns vary by region. It is often shortened to nicknames such as Val or Valya. Valerie experienced particular popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, and it continues to appear in contemporary naming lists, sometimes alongside more contemporary or diverse choices.

Notable people named Valerie include Valerie Plame (born 1963), an American former CIA operations officer and author; Valerie Jarrett (born 1946), an American businesswoman and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama; Valerie Solanas (1936–1988), an American radical feminist writer known for the SCUM Manifesto; and Valerie Harper (1939–2019), an American actress best known for her work on television, including Rhoda. The name also appears frequently in literature, film, and music as a common character name, reflecting its long-standing presence in Western naming traditions.