Valentina
Meaning of Valentina
Valentina is the feminine form of the Latin name Valentinus, a Roman family name derived from valens, meaning "strong" or "healthy." Name dictionaries agree on this origin. The name is common in Italy, Spain, and Russia, and across the Catholic world it is linked with Saint Valentine, the Roman priest commemorated on February 14.
In Italian it is pronounced va-lehn-TEE-nah; in English, val-en-TEE-nuh.
Its best-known namesake is Valentina Tereshkova, who in 1963 became the first woman in space, flying solo on Vostok 6. Another widely known bearer is the Italian foil fencer Valentina Vezzali, winner of six Olympic gold medals and sixteen world titles.
In the United States the name was rare for most of the twentieth century, given to only about a hundred babies a year as late as 1985. It entered the top 1,000 in 1993, when 184 girls received it, and the top 100 in 2017. Growth since has been steady: 5,354 girls were named Valentina in 2025, when it ranked 35th, its highest position and largest yearly count on record.
Pronunciation
Italian
- Pronunced as va-lehn-TEE-nah (/vaˈlɛntiːna/)
English
- Pronunced as val-en-TEE-nuh (/ˌvælənˈtiːnə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Valentina
| Valentina Tereshkova is a Russian engineer and politician who in 1963 became the first woman in space, flying solo on Vostok 6, and remains the youngest woman to orbit Earth. |
| Valentina Shevchenko is a Kyrgyz mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai and kickboxing champion, the first Kyrgyz UFC champion, a two time UFC womens flyweight champion, and the number one pound for pound woman in 2024. |
| Valentina Lisitsa is a pianist who built her career through social media, became one of the most viewed pianists on YouTube by 2012, and had her 2015 Toronto Symphony appearances canceled over posts supporting pro Russian separatists during the Russo Ukrainian War. |
| Valentina Greco is an Italian-born biologist and Yale School of Medicine professor whose research explores how skin stem cells drive tissue regeneration. |
| Valentina Monetta is a Sammarinese singer who represented San Marino at Eurovision in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017, becoming the first to reach the final for San Marino in 2014. |
| Brazilian model and actress Valentina Sampaio made history as the first openly transgender model for Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and in 2024 she and Alex Consani became the first trans women to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. |
| Maria Valentina Vezzali is an Italian politician and retired foil fencer with six Olympic golds and 16 world titles, one of only five to win five medals in one Olympic individual event, and widely regarded as the greatest women's foilist. |
| Valentina Alejandra Lefort Quezada is a Chilean footballer who plays in defense or midfield and most recently played for Spanish side CD Mostoles URJC. |
| Valentina Zenere is an Argentine actress, model, and singer known for her roles as Ambar Smith in Soy Luna and Juacas, Alai Inchausti in Casi Angeles, and Isadora Artinan Goldstein in the Netflix series Elite. |
| Valentina Suzukei is a leading ethnomusicologist from the Tyva Republic in Russia. |
| Valentina Visconti, Queen of Cyprus - Valentina Visconti, daughter of Bernabo Visconti and Beatrice Regina della Scala, became queen consort of Cyprus and titular queen consort of Jerusalem by marrying Peter II of Cyprus. |
| Italian professional volleyball middle blocker Valentina Arrighetti plays for the Italy national team and Volley Bergamo and competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. |
| Valentina Ferrer is an Argentine actress, model, and TV host who won Miss Argentina 2014 and competed at Miss Universe 2014. |
| Valentina Truppa is an Italian Olympic dressage rider who competed in two Summer Olympics and placed 15th individually in 2012. |
| Valentina Zelyaeva is a Russian American supermodel best known as the face of Ralph Lauren for seven years and was ranked 13th among the highest paid models in 2008 with earnings of 2.3 million. |
