Waleska
Polish feminine form of the masculine name Walery, derived from the Latin name Valerius.
Name Census estimates that about 501 living Americans carry the first name Waleska. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Waleska today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waleska births was 1981 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waleska. 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
501
~ 1 in 684,140 Americans
Peak year
1981
21 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,896
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Waleska: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waleska from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 140 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Waleska remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waleska 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 Waleska during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Waleskas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Waleska
The name Waleska is believed to have originated from the Polish language and culture. It is derived from the Old Polish name "Waleski," which itself comes from the Slavic root "val," meaning "to fight" or "to conquer." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who were warriors or had a strong, determined spirit.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Waleska dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in medieval Polish records and chronicles. During this time, Poland was a powerful kingdom, and the name may have been associated with nobility or military prowess.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Waleska Odrowaz (1520-1566) was a Polish noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the time. Her influence and legacy may have contributed to the continued use of the name in subsequent generations.
Another prominent individual with the name Waleska was Waleska Pszanska (1837-1908), a Polish-born writer and feminist activist. She was a pioneering figure in the women's rights movement and advocated for equal educational opportunities for women in Poland.
In the 19th century, the name Waleska gained some popularity in other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany and France. One notable figure from this era was Waleska von Bethusy-Huc (1828-1897), a German writer and translator who was known for her works on Polish culture and history.
Moving into the 20th century, Waleska Gorska (1890-1972) was a Polish actress and theater director who had a successful career on the stage and in silent films. She was a prominent figure in the Polish cultural scene during her lifetime.
While the name Waleska has its roots in Polish culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in Latin American countries. However, its origins and historical significance can be traced back to its Slavic roots and the rich cultural heritage of Poland.
People
Waleska + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waleska as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Waleska: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waleska?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 501 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waleska 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 684,140 US residents.
Is Waleska a common name?
We classify Waleska as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 534 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waleska most popular?
The single biggest year for Waleska was 1981, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waleska is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Waleska a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waleska 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.