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Valentina Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

By Team Mom Loves Best
Updated
Learn about the name Valentina including the meaning, gender, origin, popularity, and more.
Beautiful brunette curly girl in yellow t-shirt looking at the camera in the garden

Valentina Overview

  • Meaning: The feminine Valentina and masculine Valentinus both come from the Latin word “valens” which means healthy and strong.
  • Gender: Valentina is typically a feminine given name. Valentinus is considered the masculine version of Valentina.
  • Origin: Valentina is the feminine form of the masculine Roman name Valentinus.
  • Pronunciation: “vah-lehn-TEE-nuh”. The name rhymes with the country “Argentina”.
  • Popularity: Valentina has quickly become very popular in the United States, as it became the 69th most popular name for girls in 2021.
  • Nicknames: Tina, Val, Valena, Valentine, Valentino, Valley, Vally, Vee.
  • Variations: Tina, Valentin, Valentína, Valentinas, Valentine, Valentyna, Valentýna, Valiantsina, Valya.
  • Namesakes: Valentina Sanina-Schlee, American-Russian fashion designer; Valentina Tereshkova,Soviet astronaut and the first woman in space.
Table of Contents

What Does Valentina Mean?

The feminine Valentina and masculine Valentinus come from the Latin word “valens” which means healthy and strong.

Due to the connection to Saint Valentine and Valentine’s Day, the name Valentina is associated with love, beauty, roses, and the color red.

What Is the Origin of the Name Valentina?

Valentina is the feminine form of the masculine Roman name Valentinus. The name comes from the 3rd-century Roman Saint named Saint Valentine (1).

In Catholic church history, there are three Saint Valentines recorded and linked to the “Feast of St. Valentine”. The Feast of St. Valentine is commonly known and celebrated as Valentine’s Day (2).

In Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Lutheranism, Saint Valentine is the patron saint of happy marriages, lovers, beekeepers, and people with epilepsy.

Valentina as a given name is common in English, Spanish, and Slovak-speaking countries.

How Popular Is the Name Valentina?

Valentina has been a popular name for girls in Europe and Spanish-speaking countries for many years but has only become popular in the United States in recent years.

Valentina first entered the top 1000 most popular names for girls in the United States in 1994 at rank #951. Since then, it has steadily climbed up in popularity.

In 2003, Valentina first broke the top 500 at rank #457. In 2017, Valentina entered the top 100 for the first time at rank #95.

In 2021, Valentina reached the rank of #69, and sources project the name will enter the top 50 names in the following years. Valentina has quickly become a very popular name in the United States (3).

How Do I Pronounce Valentina?

Valentina is pronounced “vah-lehn-TEE-nuh”. The name rhymes with the Greek goddess “Athena” or the country “Argentina”.

Is Valentina a Boy or Girl Name?

Valentina is typically a feminine given name. Valentinus is considered the masculine version of Valentina.

Variations of Valentina

There have been many variations on the given name Valentina throughout history.

  • Tina (Italian, Macedonian, Slovene)
  • Valentin (Finnish, German, Danish)
  • Valentína (Slovak)
  • Valentinas (Lithuanian)
  • Valentine (French)
  • Valentyna (Ukrainian)
  • Valentýna (Czech)
  • Valiantsina (Belarusian)
  • Valya (Bulgarian, Russian)

Nicknames for Valentina

As a longer name, Valentina has many nicknames that can help make it short and catchy.

  • Tina
  • Val
  • Valena
  • Valentine
  • Valentino
  • Valley
  • Vally
  • Vee

Similar Names to Valentina

If the name Valentina interests you, these similar names are sure to inspire you.

Middle Names for Valentina

As a melodic name, Valentina sounds lovely with many classic Roman middle names.

Sibling Names for Valentina

Siblings of Valentina will match well with any of these names, which work well for any gender.

Famous People Named Valentina

Here are some of the most famous people with the name Valentina.

  • Valentina: Drag queen contestant from the reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
  • Valentina Acosta: Colombian actress and model.
  • Valentina de Angelis: American actress well-known for her role in the movie “Off the Map.”
  • Valentina L. Garza: Cuban-American screenwriter well-known for her TV series “Jane the Virgin.”
  • Valentina Grizodubova: Soviet pilot awarded the titles of “Hero of the Soviet Union” and “Hero of Socialist Labor.”
  • Valentina Ivashova: Soviet actress.
  • Valentina Sanina-Schlee: American-Russian fashion designer.
  • Valentina Tereshkova: Soviet astronaut and the first woman in space.

Valentina in Popular Culture

There are many fictional characters with the name Valentina or Valentine.

  • Valentina Barella: a character in the TV show “The Mayor.”
  • Valentina Diaz: a character in the TV show “Devious Maids.”
  • Valentine: a character in William Shakespeare’s play “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
  • Valentine Morgenstern: a character in “The Mortal Instruments” series.
  • Valentine de Villefort: a character in the novel “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Valentina FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the name Valentina.

How Rare Is the Name Valentina?

As of 2021, there are over 8,400 people with the first name Valentina in the United States. The vast majority of people in the United States (around 99.9%) with the name Valentina are female. This popularity makes Valentina a relatively rare name (4).

Where Is the Name Valentina Most Common?

In the world, Valentina is most common in Spanish and Italian-speaking countries, such as Argentina, Spain, and Italy.

In the United States, Florida is the most common area where the name Valentina is popular (5). This popularity is likely due to the large Spanish-speaking communities in the state.

How Do You Pronounce Valentina Vladmirovna Tereshkova?

Valentina Vladmirovna Tereshkova is one of the most famous people with the name Valentina as she was a Soviet astronaut and the first woman in space.

The famous astronaut’s name may seem difficult to pronounce, but with some practice, you’ll be able to tackle this Soviet name like a professional.

The name Valentina is simple as it is pronounced “vah-lehn-TEE-nuh”. The name rhymes with the Greek goddess “Athena” or the country “Argentina”.

Vladmirovna is pronounced “vlad-uh-MEER-ohv-nuh.” Tereshkova is pronounced “tair-esh-KOH-vuh”.

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