Valentine
Boy name · #1794 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Valentine? In official American birth records, Valentine has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 89 baby boys were named Valentine, placing it at #1794 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3513, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,225 boys born in 2025 was named Valentine.
Babies named Valentine per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Valentine first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 142 boys were named Valentine — good for #500 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Valentine against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Valentine in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Valentine is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Valentine will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Valentine is most common
State-level data for Valentine is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Valentine
Statistically, parents drawn to Valentine tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Everette, Alphonse, Henderson, Emile, and June.
EveretteAlphonseHendersonEmileJuneCharleyRoscoeClement
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Valentine | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 89 | #1793 |
| 2024 | 56 | #2444 |
| 2023 | 83 | #1896 |
| 2022 | 72 | #2083 |
| 2021 | 53 | #2499 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2228 |
| 2018 | 45 | #2708 |
| 2017 | 48 | #2597 |
| 2016 | 41 | #2885 |
| 2015 | 31 | #3513 |
| 2014 | 40 | #2885 |
| 2013 | 35 | #3122 |
| 2012 | 25 | #4003 |
| 2011 | 33 | #3306 |
| 2010 | 31 | #3453 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3721 |
| 2008 | 36 | #3165 |
| 2007 | 20 | #4640 |
| 2006 | 31 | #3384 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3091 |
| 2004 | 30 | #3217 |
| 2003 | 26 | #3443 |
| 2002 | 25 | #3450 |
| 2001 | 23 | #3617 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Valentine?
In official American birth records, the name Valentine first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Valentine a popular boy name?
Valentine ranked #1794 among boys in 2025 with 89 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3513.
When was the name Valentine most popular?
Valentine peaked in 1918, when 142 American boys received the name (ranked #500 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Valentine?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,225 newborn American boys was named Valentine. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.