The name Valery has its roots in the Latin name Valerius, which was derived from the word "valere" meaning "to be strong" or "to be well." It is a masculine name that has been in use since ancient Roman times.

During the Roman era, the name Valerius was borne by several notable individuals, including the Roman emperor Valerius Messalla Corvinus, who lived from 64 BC to 8 AD. Another famous bearer of the name was the Roman poet and satirist Valerius Martial, who lived from 38/41 AD to 102/104 AD and is known for his witty and often biting epigrams.

As the Roman Empire expanded, the name Valerius and its variants spread across Europe. In the Middle Ages, the name took on various forms in different regions, such as Valery in France and Valeri in Italy.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Valery was Saint Valery, a 7th-century Frankish abbot and missionary who founded the Monastery of Leuconaus in northern France. His life and work were documented in the 9th-century hagiography "Vita Sancti Valerii."

Another notable figure named Valery was Valery the Great, a Byzantine philosopher and mystic who lived in the 6th century AD. He is revered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is remembered for his contributions to the development of hesychasm, a spiritual tradition focused on inner stillness and prayer.

In the 19th century, the name Valery gained literary prominence through the French poet and essayist Paul Valéry, who lived from 1871 to 1945. Known for his philosophical and introspective works, he is considered one of the most influential figures in modern French literature.

The Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who lived from 1840 to 1893, had a brother named Valery. Valery Tchaikovsky was also a musician and served as the director of the Moscow Conservatory.

Another notable bearer of the name was Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former President of France who served from 1974 to 1981. He played a significant role in the European integration process and is remembered for his economic and social reforms.