Valerie

#127 for girls in 2025, 2,221 births · Last seen for boys in 2005 at #10,151
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1959 · 7,302 births
Debut · girls
8 births
In top 100 · girls
36 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
273,229
since 1884

Valerie over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201972peak #60, 1959girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1272,221—
2024#1471,991—
2023#1441,955—
2022#1481,986—
2021#1551,840—
2020#1441,882—
2019#1511,890—
2018#1561,802—
2017#1671,824—
2016#1601,966—
2015#1711,880—
2014#1761,886—
2013#1691,880—
2012#1691,863—
2011#1591,957—
2010#1492,065—
2009#1382,321—
2008#1352,505—
2007#1442,424—
2006#1272,752—
2005#1672,035#10,1516
2004#1801,905#8,9277
2003#1711,914#10,8945
2002#1552,107#7,0559
2001#1651,982#9,2436
2000#1662,017#9,1126
1999#1592,038—
1998#1482,142—
1997#1432,224—
1996#1542,082—
1995#1492,183#7,7926
1994#1592,010—
1993#1442,175#6,8167
1992#1362,350—
1991#1342,380#5,5219
1990#1292,428#3,46717
1989#1172,562#4,27112
1988#1032,768#4,7869
1987#932,964#3,52113
1986#763,618#2,77918
1985#713,881#2,82817
1984#763,722#2,82416
1983#743,901#2,57718
1982#753,989#2,59618
1981#893,611#3,03014
1980#853,613#2,05826
1979#893,407#2,15723
1978#923,299#2,79915
1977#863,266#2,66516
1976#833,386#3,26411
1975#923,227#3,07812
1974#933,181#2,79913
1973#963,042#2,31117
1972#1003,193#2,02020
1971#1023,679#2,68613
1970#974,130#2,62113
1969#854,300#2,86110
1968#774,550#2,9079
1967#734,757#1,85318
1966#744,816#2,32712
1965#675,648#1,85618
1964#666,616#2,40912
1963#696,172#2,41412
1962#676,335#1,66923
1961#676,677#1,73122
1960#656,717#2,12115
1959#607,302#2,03316
1958#646,920#1,89618
1957#766,231#1,83719
1956#805,909#2,36112
1955#805,512#2,43511
1954#874,917#3,4526
1953#884,591#2,53110
1952#874,263#2,51410
1951#1003,559#3,7145
1950#1163,026#2,5809
1949#1083,052#2,45310
1948#1352,132#3,6685
1947#1841,553—
1946#1811,440—
1945#1891,079—
1944#216915#3,1096
1943#212955—
1942#2001,017—
1941#229752—
1940#214799#2,6718
1939#251622—
1938#267551—
1937#279494—
1936#282453#3,5495
1935#276486—
1934#353319—
1933#374293—
1932#393276—
1931#413244—
1930#451222—
1929#502180—
1928#517179—
1927#500195—
1926#534171—
1925#586151—
1924#557172—
1923#579155—
1922#593147—
1921#512190—
1920#545170—
1919#520171—
1918#469202—
1917#486182—
1916#475179—
1915#471171—
1914#550103—
1913#464116—
1912#51887—
1911#55858—
1910#63045—
1909#55947—
1908#72928—
1907#68031—
1906#73125—
1905#71325—
1904#66827—
1903#83617—
1902#79719—
1901#74719—
1900#80321—
1899#93512—
1898#71921—
1897#78616—
1896#99911—
1895#72519—
1894#71917—
1893#95510—
1892#90811—
1891#79612—
1890#79112—
1889#75712—
1888#1,2765—
1887#9377—
1886——
1885——
1884#7938—
1883——
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1884

The first year at least five girls were named Valerie! It came in at #793, and was given to 8 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1885–1886, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Valerie is popular in 1972

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #68 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 233 girlsAKMaine: #140 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 595 girlsMEVermont: #51 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 207 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #180 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 890 girlsNHWashington: #150 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 662 girlsWAIdaho: #59 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 226 girlsIDMontana: #96 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 323 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #143 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 565 girlsNDMinnesota: #149 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 668 girlsMNIllinois: #88 for girls · 185 births · 1 in 403 girlsILWisconsin: #126 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 573 girlsWIMichigan: #124 for girls · 111 births · 1 in 558 girlsMINew York: #99 for girls · 252 births · 1 in 440 girlsNYMassachusetts: #140 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 728 girlsMARhode Island: #97 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 399 girlsRIOregon: #117 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 451 girlsORNevada: #114 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 390 girlsNVWyoming: #115 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 347 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #119 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 425 girlsSDIowa: #136 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 545 girlsIAIndiana: #97 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 421 girlsINOhio: #96 for girls · 179 births · 1 in 416 girlsOHPennsylvania: #87 for girls · 191 births · 1 in 378 girlsPANew Jersey: #80 for girls · 118 births · 1 in 345 girlsNJConnecticut: #95 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 406 girlsCTCalifornia: #95 for girls · 313 births · 1 in 438 girlsCAUtah: #73 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 301 girlsUTColorado: #72 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 276 girlsCONebraska: #124 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 520 girlsNEMissouri: #113 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 505 girlsMOKentucky: #113 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 505 girlsKYWest Virginia: #113 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 488 girlsWVVirginia: #77 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 340 girlsVAMaryland: #89 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 388 girlsMDDelaware: #79 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 279 girlsDEArizona: #52 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 233 girlsAZNew Mexico: #22 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 119 girlsNMKansas: #107 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 440 girlsKSArkansas: #139 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 569 girlsARTennessee: #83 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 377 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #119 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 510 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #101 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 400 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #105 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 390 girlsDCOklahoma: #91 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 370 girlsOKLouisiana: #167 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 737 girlsLAMississippi: #66 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 259 girlsMSAlabama: #96 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 371 girlsALGeorgia: #82 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 336 girlsGAHawaii: #160 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 495 girlsHITexas: #112 for girls · 185 births · 1 in 521 girlsTXFlorida: #112 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 511 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. New Mexico#22 · 1 in 119
  2. Vermont#51 · 1 in 207
  3. Arizona#52 · 1 in 233
  4. Idaho#59 · 1 in 226
  5. Mississippi#66 · 1 in 259

Best ever in a state: #10 in New Mexico, 1979.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Mexico#22641 in 119
Vermont#51121 in 207
Arizona#52621 in 233
Idaho#59211 in 226
Mississippi#66671 in 259
Alaska#6891 in 233
Colorado#72571 in 276
Utah#73351 in 301
Virginia#77871 in 340
Delaware#79111 in 279
New Jersey#801181 in 345
Georgia#821071 in 336
Tennessee#83751 in 377
Pennsylvania#871911 in 378
Illinois#881851 in 403
Maryland#89531 in 388
Oklahoma#91441 in 370
California#953131 in 438
Connecticut#95391 in 406
Alabama#96651 in 371
Montana#96121 in 323
Ohio#961791 in 416
Indiana#97881 in 421
Rhode Island#97131 in 399
New York#992521 in 440
South Carolina#101481 in 400
District of Columbia#105191 in 390
Kansas#107281 in 440
Florida#112871 in 511
Texas#1121851 in 521
Kentucky#113471 in 505
Missouri#113621 in 505
West Virginia#113251 in 488
Nevada#11471 in 390
Wyoming#11551 in 347
Oregon#117281 in 451
North Carolina#119721 in 510
South Dakota#11991 in 425
Michigan#1241111 in 558
Nebraska#124181 in 520
Wisconsin#126481 in 573
Iowa#136321 in 545
Arkansas#139231 in 569
Maine#140111 in 595
Massachusetts#140471 in 728
North Dakota#14371 in 565
Minnesota#149361 in 668
Washington#150291 in 662
Hawaii#16091 in 495
Louisiana#167361 in 737
New Hampshire#18051 in 890

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Valerie
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 20 spots since 2024 (#147 → #127)
  • 17 spots since 2020 (#144 → #127)
  • 44 spots since 2015 (#171 → #127)
  • Biggest jump: 519 spots in 1889 (#1,276 → #757)
  • Biggest drop: 339 spots in 1888 (#937 → #1,276)
Rise & fade · girls
75 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1884
  • Peaked 1959 at #60 (7,302 births)
  • Births halved by 1972, 13 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 36 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 36 yrs · run 1951–1970
  • Top 1,000: 139 yrs · run 1889–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 277
  • Highest: 1 in 277 girls born in 1959 were named Valerie (0.36%)
  • Latest: 1 in 724 girls born in 2025 (0.14%)
Era · girls
The 1960s
  • 20.7% of all girls named Valerie (56,588) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s32#757 (1889)#941
1890s141#719 (1898)#833
1900s259#559 (1909)#726
1910s1,314#464 (1913)#514
1920s1,710#500 (1927)#543
1930s3,960#251 (1939)#334
1940s13,694#108 (1949)#187
1950s52,230#60 (1959)#84
1960s56,588#65 (1960)#71
1970s33,810#83 (1976)#93
1980s34,629#71 (1985)#86
1990s22,012#129 (1990)#146
2000s21,962#127 (2006)#155
2010s19,013#149 (2010)#163
2020s11,875#127 (2025)#144

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Valerie in 1972

girls
#100
3,193 births · 1 in 476 girls
boys
#2,020
20 births · 1 in 81,080 boys

Top girls' names in 1972

  1. #1Jennifer63,600
  2. #2Michelle29,285
  3. #3Lisa27,543
  4. #4Kimberly26,282
  5. #5Amy25,873
  6. #6Angela23,561
  7. #7Melissa22,494
  8. #8Stephanie16,890
  9. #9Heather16,320
  10. #10Nicole15,755
  11. #100Valerie3,193

Top boys' names in 1972

  1. #1Michael71,393
  2. #2Christopher52,172
  3. #3James47,063
  4. #4David46,322
  5. #5John43,158
  6. #6Robert43,013
  7. #7Jason37,423
  8. #8Brian36,306
  9. #9William30,510
  10. #10Matthew22,928
  11. #2,020Valerie20
More about 1972

girls

1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 476 of them was named Valerie, which outranked 99.0% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Valerie
  1. #97Jodi3,259
  2. #98Laurie3,227
  3. #99Victoria3,206
  4. #100Valerie3,193
  5. #101Sara3,179
  6. #102Kristi3,131
  7. #103Kathryn3,127
Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,804Camisha#6,619 → #815
  2. ↑ 3,921Catina#4,123 → #202
  3. ↑ 1,842Cherilyn#2,665 → #823
  4. ↑ 1,789Chasity#2,542 → #753
  5. ↑ 1,694Keena#2,542 → #848
Fallers
  1. ↓ 517Shayla#836 → #1,353
  2. ↓ 428Raina#798 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 280Kendall#742 → #1,022
  4. ↓ 275Alycia#951 → #1,226
  5. ↓ 255Charisse#727 → #982

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 81,080 of them was named Valerie, which outranked 64.9% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Valerie
  1. #1,966Tori21
  2. #1,966Tremain21
  3. #1,966Wilber21
  4. #2,020Valerie20
  5. #2,020Andrae20
  6. #2,020Arlan20
  7. #2,020Asher20
  8. #2,080Abdullah19
  9. #2,080Ajay19
  10. #2,080Akil19

Tied with 59 names at #2,020; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,755Demond#3,146 → #391
  2. ↑ 1,286Cade#2,279 → #993
  3. ↑ 905Vidal#1,526 → #621
  4. ↑ 855Damond#1,784 → #929
  5. ↑ 849Kareem#1,254 → #405
Fallers
  1. ↓ 413Rich#914 → #1,327
  2. ↓ 401Monroe#947 → #1,348
  3. ↓ 317Laura#990 → #1,307
  4. ↓ 309Von#976 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 309Westley#998 → #1,307

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1972 →