Valentina is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the root "valens" meaning "strong" or "vigorous." It is closely related to the masculine name Valentinus and the Latin word "valentia," which translates to "strength" or "valor." The name traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where it was used as a personal name during the Roman Imperial period.

The earliest recorded use of the name Valentina can be found in various historical documents dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. One notable example is Saint Valentina, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century and was killed during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Claudius II Gothicus. Her feast day is celebrated on April 14th in the Catholic Church.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Valentina remained relatively uncommon, but gained popularity during the Renaissance period. One of the earliest recorded instances of a prominent figure bearing the name was Valentina Visconti (1368-1408), a member of the powerful Visconti family who ruled Milan in the 14th and 15th centuries.

In the 16th century, the name Valentina appeared in several literary works, including the play "The Spanish Tragedy" by Thomas Kyd, where it was used as the name of a character. Around the same time, Valentina Cybo (1519-1589), an Italian noblewoman and member of the powerful Cybo family, also bore the name.

During the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Valentina Semiramis Dolgorukova (1708-1743), a Russian princess and lady-in-waiting to the Empress Anna of Russia. She played a significant role in the political intrigues of the Russian court during her lifetime.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures with the name Valentina was the Russian ballerina Valentina Semyonova (1846-1868), who was a leading prima ballerina at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and renowned for her performances in classical ballets.

Another prominent Valentina from the 20th century was Valentina Tereshkova (born 1937), the first woman to fly in space. She was a Soviet cosmonaut who made history in 1963 when she became the first woman to go into space aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft.