Valeska
A feminine diminutive form of the German name Valerie meaning strong.
Name Census estimates that about 635 living Americans carry the first name Valeska. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Valeska today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Valeska births was 2010 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Valeska. 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.
People living today
635
~ 1 in 539,771 Americans
Peak year
2010
24 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,758
Tracked since 1893
Popularity
Valeska: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Valeska from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 170 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Valeska remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Valeska 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 Valeska during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Valeskas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Valeska, while Florida, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Valeska
The name Valeska originated from the Latin word "valens," which means "strong" or "vigorous." It is a feminine form of the male name Valerius, which was a common Roman family name. The name gained popularity during the Roman Empire, where it was given to girls born into prominent Roman families.
In the early centuries of the Christian era, the name Valeska became associated with the Latin word "valere," meaning "to be well" or "to be healthy." As a result, the name took on connotations of health, vitality, and well-being. It was commonly used in various regions of Europe, particularly in areas influenced by Roman culture and the Latin language.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Valeska can be found in the 4th century, when a Roman noblewoman named Valeska was mentioned in historical records. She was a prominent figure in her time and was known for her patronage of the arts and her charitable works.
During the Middle Ages, the name Valeska maintained its popularity, particularly among the nobility and upper classes. Several notable figures bore this name, including Valeska of Bavaria (1090-1165), a German princess renowned for her piety and charitable deeds, and Valeska of Aragon (1245-1302), a Spanish noblewoman and patron of the arts.
In the Renaissance era, the name Valeska gained further popularity and was associated with strength, courage, and resilience. One of the most famous figures to bear this name was Valeska Bavier (1501-1567), a French noblewoman who played a significant role in the court of King Francis I and was known for her intelligence and diplomatic skills.
Another notable Valeska was Valeska Gert (1892-1978), a German dancer and actress who was a pioneering figure in the world of avant-garde performance art. Her bold and unconventional style challenged traditional norms and influenced generations of artists and performers.
In the 20th century, the name Valeska was revived and gained a new wave of popularity. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Valeska Suratt (1882-1962), an American actress and vaudeville performer known for her risqué and controversial performances.
While the name Valeska is not as common today as it once was, it continues to be used in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong Latin or Roman cultural influences. Its enduring appeal lies in its rich history, its associations with strength and vitality, and its unique and melodic sound.
People
Valeska + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Valeska 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
Valeska: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Valeska?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 635 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Valeska 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 539,771 US residents.
Is Valeska a common name?
We classify Valeska as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 774 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Valeska most popular?
The single biggest year for Valeska was 2010, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Valeska is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Valeska a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Valeska 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.
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.