Valentine
Valentine is given to both girls and boys: 70 girls and 89 boys were given it in 2025 (#2,539 among girls’ names and #1,807 among boys’, #2,598 among all names counting both); 8,950 Americans have been recorded with it since 1880 (Social Security Administration, published May 2026).
An estimated 4,220 Americans named Valentine and born in the U.S. are alive in 2026 (47% of everyone recorded); the median is 31 years old and half are between 10 and 60.
Girls and boys together; gaps are years SSA did not record (fewer than 5 births).
Births of Valentine by year: SSA national baby-name file, 1880-2025, published May 8, 2026. SSA’s notes on the data.
What does Valentine mean?
Wiktionary, English section
Valentine is “a male given name from Latin in quiet but steady use since the 16th century.” Its etymology gives the senses “strong, healthy” (vālens) and “-ine” (-īnus).
Also “a female given name from Latin occasionally borrowed from French.”
From Latin Valentīnus, a patronymic from Valēns (Roman cognomen), itself nominalized from vālens (“strong, healthy”) + -īnus (“-ine”). Doublet of Valentinus, Valentino, Valentina, and Valentini.
/ˈvæləntaɪn/
Meaning: Wiktionary, English section, as of Sep 25, 2026 (CC BY‑SA 4.0).
How popular is Valentine?
#1,807 among boys’ names, 2025
Valentine rose from #3,584 in 2015 to #1,807 in 2025 among boys’ names; its share of boys born rose from 16.2 to 52.1 per million.
180 babies in 1919, the peak
Valentine peaked in 1919, when 180 babies were given it (142 boys, #500 among boys’ names). The 159 births of 2025 (girls and boys) are 88% of that peak.
Births by sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls’ rank | Boys | Boys’ rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70 | #2,539 | 89 | #1,807 |
| 2024 | 51 | #3,172 | 56 | #2,474 |
| 2023 | 46 | #3,471 | 83 | #1,906 |
| 2022 | 56 | #2,993 | 72 | #2,092 |
| 2021 | 49 | #3,294 | 53 | #2,519 |
| 2020 | 45 | #3,444 | 51 | #2,543 |
| 2019 | 55 | #2,996 | 62 | #2,259 |
| 2018 | 42 | #3,668 | 45 | #2,743 |
| 2017 | 35 | #4,214 | 48 | #2,633 |
| 2016 | 37 | #4,075 | 41 | #2,930 |
Every recorded year (146)
| Year | Girls | Girls’ rank | Boys | Boys’ rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 41 | #3,756 | 31 | #3,584 |
| 2014 | 47 | #3,416 | 40 | #2,925 |
| 2013 | 32 | #4,529 | 35 | #3,180 |
| 2012 | 28 | #5,102 | 25 | #4,123 |
| 2011 | 33 | #4,458 | 33 | #3,358 |
| 2010 | 14 | #8,667 | 31 | #3,520 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5,696 | 28 | #3,820 |
| 2008 | 24 | #5,942 | 36 | #3,214 |
| 2007 | 22 | #6,308 | 20 | #4,791 |
| 2006 | 13 | #9,247 | 31 | #3,446 |
| 2005 | 14 | #8,302 | 33 | #3,163 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11,574 | 30 | #3,277 |
| 2003 | 13 | #8,468 | 26 | #3,518 |
| 2002 | 14 | #7,796 | 25 | #3,544 |
| 2001 | 15 | #7,295 | 23 | #3,710 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10,701 | 20 | #4,051 |
| 1999 | 14 | #7,215 | 28 | #3,023 |
| 1998 | 16 | #6,346 | 34 | #2,546 |
| 1997 | 14 | #6,822 | 40 | #2,197 |
| 1996 | 13 | #7,102 | 36 | #2,293 |
| 1995 | 13 | #7,018 | 24 | #3,008 |
| 1994 | 7 | #11,727 | 25 | #2,937 |
| 1993 | 16 | #5,932 | 23 | #3,028 |
| 1992 | 12 | #7,484 | 27 | #2,657 |
| 1991 | 13 | #6,955 | 32 | #2,286 |
| 1990 | 12 | #7,279 | 37 | #2,040 |
| 1989 | 9 | #8,723 | 26 | #2,531 |
| 1988 | under 5 | 31 | #2,080 | |
| 1987 | 12 | #6,318 | 30 | #2,050 |
| 1986 | 12 | #6,134 | 27 | #2,154 |
| 1985 | 14 | #5,334 | 33 | #1,831 |
| 1984 | 11 | #6,275 | 29 | #1,929 |
| 1983 | 12 | #5,807 | 29 | #1,900 |
| 1982 | 18 | #4,339 | 36 | #1,674 |
| 1981 | 16 | #4,734 | 38 | #1,599 |
| 1980 | 22 | #3,716 | 31 | #1,849 |
| 1979 | 10 | #6,677 | 32 | #1,784 |
| 1978 | 6 | #9,707 | 31 | #1,756 |
| 1977 | 7 | #8,407 | 21 | #2,267 |
| 1976 | 8 | #7,263 | 29 | #1,777 |
| 1975 | 5 | #10,555 | 28 | #1,782 |
| 1974 | 6 | #8,717 | 33 | #1,544 |
| 1973 | 7 | #7,400 | 32 | #1,547 |
| 1972 | 8 | #6,535 | 30 | #1,600 |
| 1971 | under 5 | 31 | #1,592 | |
| 1970 | 6 | #7,955 | 35 | #1,433 |
| 1969 | 8 | #5,949 | 30 | #1,489 |
| 1968 | under 5 | 33 | #1,363 | |
| 1967 | 8 | #5,432 | 32 | #1,361 |
| 1966 | 11 | #4,182 | 38 | #1,234 |
| 1965 | 18 | #3,039 | 45 | #1,126 |
| 1964 | 7 | #5,979 | 31 | #1,431 |
| 1963 | 8 | #5,272 | 31 | #1,423 |
| 1962 | 9 | #4,836 | 31 | #1,419 |
| 1961 | 8 | #5,274 | 26 | #1,598 |
| 1960 | 10 | #4,427 | 41 | #1,239 |
| 1959 | 13 | #3,607 | 32 | #1,411 |
| 1958 | 5 | #6,975 | 39 | #1,251 |
| 1957 | 5 | #6,947 | 47 | #1,128 |
| 1956 | 10 | #4,148 | 52 | #1,054 |
| 1955 | 14 | #3,213 | 64 | #940 |
| 1954 | 6 | #5,708 | 48 | #1,094 |
| 1953 | 11 | #3,672 | 60 | #929 |
| 1952 | 11 | #3,539 | 61 | #913 |
| 1951 | 9 | #3,989 | 54 | #960 |
| 1950 | 10 | #3,648 | 57 | #916 |
| 1949 | 11 | #3,381 | 68 | #831 |
| 1948 | 16 | #2,586 | 54 | #952 |
| 1947 | 12 | #3,219 | 53 | #982 |
| 1946 | 7 | #4,391 | 46 | #1,016 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,185 | 28 | #1,267 |
| 1944 | 18 | #2,092 | 51 | #896 |
| 1943 | 19 | #2,074 | 56 | #896 |
| 1942 | 7 | #4,093 | 50 | #945 |
| 1941 | 12 | #2,659 | 63 | #797 |
| 1940 | 12 | #2,566 | 50 | #901 |
| 1939 | 10 | #2,905 | 44 | #953 |
| 1938 | 13 | #2,437 | 68 | #748 |
| 1937 | 10 | #2,921 | 64 | #769 |
| 1936 | 8 | #3,353 | 66 | #746 |
| 1935 | 14 | #2,298 | 58 | #821 |
| 1934 | 9 | #3,136 | 63 | #787 |
| 1933 | 14 | #2,264 | 70 | #732 |
| 1932 | 11 | #2,815 | 89 | #643 |
| 1931 | 19 | #1,868 | 92 | #623 |
| 1930 | 21 | #1,807 | 111 | #571 |
| 1929 | 16 | #2,177 | 97 | #619 |
| 1928 | 14 | #2,490 | 119 | #561 |
| 1927 | 25 | #1,720 | 114 | #583 |
| 1926 | 29 | #1,536 | 115 | #578 |
| 1925 | 30 | #1,532 | 106 | #611 |
| 1924 | 22 | #1,919 | 126 | #567 |
| 1923 | 28 | #1,591 | 108 | #613 |
| 1922 | 36 | #1,340 | 132 | #550 |
| 1921 | 35 | #1,370 | 103 | #629 |
| 1920 | 29 | #1,543 | 123 | #558 |
| 1919 | 38 | #1,240 | 142 | #500 |
| 1918 | 30 | #1,447 | 142 | #501 |
| 1917 | 52 | #976 | 104 | #585 |
| 1916 | 31 | #1,329 | 124 | #508 |
| 1915 | 30 | #1,313 | 137 | #471 |
| 1914 | 19 | #1,536 | 123 | #436 |
| 1913 | 12 | #1,873 | 81 | #485 |
| 1912 | 18 | #1,293 | 55 | #546 |
| 1911 | 11 | #1,538 | 29 | #575 |
| 1910 | 11 | #1,511 | 30 | #522 |
| 1909 | 12 | #1,282 | 27 | #503 |
| 1908 | 8 | #1,665 | 23 | #540 |
| 1907 | 7 | #1,802 | 19 | #588 |
| 1906 | under 5 | 18 | #565 | |
| 1905 | 9 | #1,409 | 19 | #547 |
| 1904 | 8 | #1,470 | 18 | #536 |
| 1903 | 9 | #1,305 | 24 | #409 |
| 1902 | 7 | #1,581 | 12 | #682 |
| 1901 | 7 | #1,454 | 19 | #451 |
| 1900 | 6 | #1,917 | 15 | #676 |
| 1899 | under 5 | 15 | #518 | |
| 1898 | 9 | #1,255 | 14 | #606 |
| 1897 | 5 | #1,779 | 12 | #647 |
| 1896 | 10 | #1,118 | 19 | #480 |
| 1895 | 7 | #1,418 | 23 | #412 |
| 1894 | 5 | #1,694 | 26 | #366 |
| 1893 | under 5 | 15 | #505 | |
| 1892 | 6 | #1,440 | 18 | #476 |
| 1891 | under 5 | 11 | #592 | |
| 1890 | under 5 | 18 | #433 | |
| 1889 | 6 | #1,266 | 15 | #496 |
| 1888 | under 5 | 17 | #480 | |
| 1887 | 5 | #1,296 | 15 | #457 |
| 1886 | under 5 | 16 | #469 | |
| 1885 | 10 | #743 | 16 | #478 |
| 1884 | under 5 | 18 | #448 | |
| 1883 | under 5 | 16 | #458 | |
| 1882 | under 5 | 19 | #425 | |
| 1881 | under 5 | 13 | #501 | |
| 1880 | under 5 | 10 | #635 |
Ranks: girls’ names and boys’ names ranked separately in each year’s SSA file; “under 5” is a year SSA did not list the name for that sex.
Is Valentine a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Of the 8,950 Americans recorded as Valentine, 25% are girls and 75% boys.
Years with fewer than 20 babies given the name are left blank.
Girls and boys named Valentine: the SSA national file counts each sex separately.
How many people are named Valentine, and how old are they?
4,220 alive in 2026, estimated
That is 47% of the 8,950 Americans ever recorded as Valentine. The median Valentine alive today is 31 years old; half are between 10 and 60.
The 2020 Census counted 6,072 people named Valentine (1,686 women and girls, 4,386 men and boys). SSA’s births carried forward to Census day, April 1, 2020, predict 3,922 born in the U.S. The Census count is 1.5 times that prediction. Possible reasons: the Census counts people born abroad, whom SSA’s files leave out, and it records the name people give, which SSA may have recorded under another spelling or as part of a compound name.
Alive today, by age
Alive today, by generation
| Generation | Born | Alive |
|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation | 1928-1945 | 255 |
| Baby Boomers | 1946-1964 | 714 |
| Generation X | 1965-1980 | 570 |
| Millennials | 1981-1996 | 643 |
| Generation Z | 1997-2012 | 729 |
| Generation Alpha | 2013-2025 | 1,300 |
An estimate, not a count. SSA’s files count people born in the United States who received a Social Security number, so anyone born abroad is not in them; before 1937 most people got a number as adults, and their survival is counted from that age.
Living estimate: SSA births carried forward with the survival rates in SSA’s cohort life tables (2024 Trustees Report) for each birth year and sex. How the estimate is made. Count: Census Bureau, first names in the 2020 Census (released April 14, 2026; names reported 100 or more times, with the Bureau’s disclosure-avoidance adjustment).
Where are babies named Valentine born?
The states with the most babies named Valentine are New York, Texas and California, with 59% of its births recorded by state since 1910.
| State | Since 1910 | Rank, boys | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 724 | #1,398 | 1.1× |
| Texas | 659 | #1,898 | 1.1× |
| California | 648 | #1,570 | 1.0× |
| Pennsylvania | 483 | not ranked | 0.9× |
| Illinois | 232 | not ranked | 0.6× |
| New Jersey | 129 | not ranked | 0.5× |
| Ohio | 115 | not ranked | 0.3× |
| North Dakota | 93 | not ranked | 2.0× |
| Wisconsin | 90 | not ranked | 0.5× |
| Michigan | 71 | not ranked | 0.2× |
Where Valentine is more common than its national share predicts
Relative to its national share, Valentine is most over-represented in Texas: since 1910 it was given 1.1 times as often there as its national share each year would predict.
States: SSA state file, 1910-2025, published May 8, 2026; births count girls and boys together, and the rank is among boys’ names in the state in 2025. The file leaves out any state and year with fewer than 5 babies of the name, so small states are undercounted; each ratio compares the state’s births of Valentine with the births its national share predicts year by year, for states with at least 100 births of the name.
Names spelled alike
Of these 2 names spelled alike, given to 20,734 babies since 1880, Valentine is the second most given (43% of them). In 2025 it was given to 159 of their 869 babies (18%), again the second most given.
Spelled alike: names in the SSA national file with the same pattern of letters and sounds and at most two letters apart, and Wiktionary’s listed forms; births since 1880 and in 2025, and each name’s peak year, from the SSA national file, published May 8, 2026. Some are separate names, not spellings of one.
More about Valentine and names like it
- Compare Valentine and ValentinoBirths, ranks, peak and the living estimate side by side.
- The most given names of the 1910sValentine peaked in 1919.
- New York’s most given namesThe state where SSA recorded the most babies named Valentine since 1910.
- Latin namesWiktionary’s origin for Valentine: every such name, by how often it is given.
- The top names of 1919The year the most babies were named Valentine.
- The names of Generation AlphaMost people named Valentine alive today were born 2013-2025.
- Names starting with VMost given first.