How Many People Are Named Valerie?
Complete statistics for the name Valerie: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Valerie comes from the Latin root meaning strength and health, and it's a name with real staying power. About 240,955 people named Valerie are living in the US today, making it 1 in 1,370 Americans. It spent 11 years in the US top 10, which puts it in genuinely classic territory.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 9 is traditionally associated with compassion, wisdom, and a deep sense of purpose. People connected to 9 are seen as generous souls who are drawn to serving others and leaving the world better than they found it.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 50All 271,690 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Valerie Through the Generations
Valerie hit its stride in the late 1950s, peaking in 1959 with 7,320 births in a single year. That's the signature of a name that had a real cultural moment, not just a slow burn. With 271,690 all-time US births and an estimated 240,955 living today, the gap is relatively small, suggesting most people ever named Valerie are still with us. That tracks with the age data: a huge 41% of all Valeries are over 60, and the average age sits at 50. Only 57,059 are under 30, compared to 111,759 over 60, so this is clearly a name that belongs to an older generation. It's not disappearing, but it is slowly declining, and younger parents aren't reaching for it the way they once did. It's uncommon today without being rare, a classic that's quietly aging with its original bearers.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Valerie
Valerie is generally a feminine given name, derived directly from the French Valérie. Valéry or Valery is a masculine given name in parts of Europe, as well as a common surname in Francophone countries. Another, much rarer, French masculine form of the name is Valère.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Valerie's Latin roots
📄 About the Name Valerie
How Many People Have the Name Valerie?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 384 people in the United States currently share the name Valerie. That works out to roughly 1 in every 863,149 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Valerie a Common or Rare Name?
Valerie is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Valerie Mean?
Valerie means "strong and healthy" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Valerie in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Valerie Most Popular?
The name Valerie reached peak popularity in 1959, with 7,320 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Valerie?
Approximately 384 people named Valerie live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 384. That works out to roughly 1 in 863,149 Americans.
Is Valerie a rare name?
Valerie is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 863,149 Americans has this name.
What does the name Valerie mean?
Valerie means "strong and healthy" and comes from Latin origins.
Is Valerie more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Valerie are male and 100% are female.
When was Valerie most popular?
Valerie peaked in 1959 with 7,320 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.