Valaida
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a blend of "Valentine" and "Ada".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Valaida. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Valaida today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Valaida births was 1936 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Valaida. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Valaida is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Valaidas were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Valaida. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1936
7 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1956 SSA rank
#6,838
Tracked since 1933
Popularity
Valaida: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Valaida from the 1930s through to the 1950s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 12 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Valaida remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Valaida by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Valaida during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Valaida
The name Valaida is believed to have originated from the Yiddish language, which is primarily spoken by Ashkenazi Jewish communities across Europe and parts of the Middle East. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Hebrew name Valeeda, which means "born" or "brought into the world."
Historically, the name Valaida can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was commonly used within Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and Russia. Its roots are deeply embedded in the rich cultural tapestry of the Ashkenazi Jewish diaspora, reflecting the community's strong emphasis on tradition and family values.
While no specific historical references to the name Valaida have been found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its connection to the Hebrew language and Jewish heritage lends it a sense of cultural significance. The earliest recorded examples of the name date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, although it is possible that it was in use earlier in more isolated communities.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Valaida. One of the most prominent was Valaida Snow, an American jazz singer, dancer, and entertainer who was born in 1904 and passed away in 1956. She was known for her dynamic performances and was a pioneering figure in the world of jazz music.
Another notable Valaida was Valaida Walker, an American actress and vaudeville performer who lived from 1890 to 1978. She appeared in numerous stage productions and films throughout her career, and was celebrated for her versatility and talent.
In the literary world, Valaida Fullwood is a contemporary African American author and playwright, known for her works exploring themes of identity, community, and social justice. She has written several critically acclaimed plays and books, including "Giving Birth to Rainbows" and "Encountering Eve."
Valaida Randall was an American social worker and civil rights activist who lived from 1911 to 2003. She dedicated her life to advocating for equal rights and opportunities for marginalized communities, and played a pivotal role in numerous social justice movements throughout the 20th century.
Finally, Valaida Brill was a German-born American anthropologist and author who lived from 1939 to 2013. She conducted extensive research on the cultural traditions and practices of various indigenous communities, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
While the name Valaida may not be as commonly used today, its rich historical roots and cultural significance continue to resonate, serving as a reminder of the diverse tapestry of human experiences and traditions that have shaped our world.
People
Valaida + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Valaida as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Valaida: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Valaida?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Valaida going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Valaida a common name?
We classify Valaida as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 17 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Valaida most popular?
The single biggest year for Valaida was 1936, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Valaida is about 71 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Valaida in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Valaida a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Valaida in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Valaida still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Valaida in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Valaida can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Valaida?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.