Valory
A name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly a variant of "Valerie".
Name Census estimates that about 266 living Americans carry the first name Valory. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Valory today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Valory births was 1955 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Valory. 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
266
~ 1 in 1,288,550 Americans
Peak year
1955
16 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,481
Tracked since 1943
Popularity
Valory: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Valory from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 90 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Valory 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 Valory 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 Valory
The name Valory is believed to have its origins in the Latin language, deriving from the word "valere," which means "to be strong" or "to be well." This name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in regions of Europe where Latin influence was strong, such as Italy, France, and parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Valory can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in a historical document from the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. In this document, a nobleman named Valory di Brescia was referenced as a prominent figure in the local community.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Valory was often associated with individuals of noble or privileged backgrounds. It was considered a name that conveyed strength, resilience, and a sense of well-being, reflecting the aspirations of aristocratic families during that time.
In the 14th century, a renowned French poet and scholar named Valory de Valois gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the cultural renaissance of his era. Born in 1320, Valory de Valois was a member of the French royal family and his writings often explored themes of love, chivalry, and the ideals of courtly life.
Moving into the Renaissance period, one notable figure bearing the name Valory was the Italian artist Valory Beccafumi, born in 1486 in Siena, Italy. Beccafumi was a prominent painter and sculptor, known for his elaborate religious frescoes and his unique blend of Renaissance and Mannerist styles.
In the 17th century, Valory de la Salle, a French educator and Catholic priest, made significant contributions to the field of education. Born in 1651, he founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a pioneering organization dedicated to providing quality education to underprivileged children.
Another influential figure named Valory was the French military leader Valory Leclerc, born in 1772. Leclerc played a crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars and was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the French expedition to Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) in 1801.
While the name Valory has its roots in ancient Latin and gained prominence during the medieval and Renaissance periods, it has continued to be used across various cultures and regions over time, often carrying connotations of strength, resilience, and well-being.
People
Valory + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Valory 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
Valory: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Valory?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 266 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Valory 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 1,288,550 US residents.
Is Valory a common name?
We classify Valory as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 329 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Valory most popular?
The single biggest year for Valory was 1955, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Valory is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Valory a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Valory 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.