Valiente
A Spanish name meaning brave, courageous, or valiant.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Valiente. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Valiente today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Valiente births was 2019 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Valiente. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Valiente. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2019
5 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,924
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Valiente: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Valiente from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Valiente 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 Valiente 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 Valiente
The name Valiente is a Spanish adjective meaning "brave" or "courageous". It is derived from the Latin word "valens", meaning "strong" or "vigorous". The name has its origins in the Spanish language and culture, dating back to the Middle Ages.
In medieval Spain, during the time of the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors), the concept of valor and bravery was highly esteemed. Knights and warriors who displayed exceptional courage and valor in battle were often referred to as "valientes". This term eventually evolved into a given name, bestowed upon children in the hope that they would embody these admirable qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Valiente can be found in the 13th-century epic poem "El Cantar de Mio Cid", which tells the story of the legendary Castilian hero, El Cid. The poem frequently refers to El Cid and his soldiers as "valientes", exemplifying their bravery and heroism in battle.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Valiente. One such person was Valiente Fernández de Heredia (1310-1396), a Spanish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors. He was renowned for his valor and leadership on the battlefield.
Another prominent figure was Valiente Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who was the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and discover the Pacific Ocean. His brave explorations and conquests in the Americas earned him the epithet "El Valiente" (The Brave One).
In the realm of literature, Valiente Blasco Ibáñez (1867-1928) was a renowned Spanish novelist and journalist. His works, including novels like "La Barraca" and "Los Cuatro Jinetes del Apocalipsis", often explored themes of courage and resilience in the face of adversity, reflecting his own valiant spirit.
In the 20th century, Valiente Menchaca Barón (1903-1977) was a celebrated Mexican painter and muralist. His bold and vibrant murals, depicting scenes from Mexican history and culture, earned him the admiration of art critics and the public alike, showcasing his artistic valor and daring.
Valiente Méndez Trelles (1925-2001) was a Cuban-American activist and writer who fearlessly advocated for human rights and social justice. His unwavering commitment to these causes, even in the face of persecution, exemplified the true meaning of the name Valiente – a courageous and resolute spirit.
People
Valiente + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Valiente 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
Valiente: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Valiente?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Valiente 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Valiente a common name?
We classify Valiente as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Valiente most popular?
The single biggest year for Valiente was 2019, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Valiente is about 6 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 Valiente in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Valiente a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Valiente in the SSA data are male. 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 Valiente still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Valiente 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 Valiente 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 people are called Valiente?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.