Valentine
Boy name · #1794 in 2025 · Uniqueness 48/100
In 2025, 89 baby boys were named Valentine, placing it at #1794 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3513, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,225 boys born in 2025 was named Valentine.
Babies named Valentine per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Valentine first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 142 boys were named Valentine — good for #500 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Valentine against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Valentine in class?
Valentine scores 48 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Valentine is most common
Geography matters for names, and Valentine is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Valentines were CA (11), TX (9), NY (8), FL (6), IN (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Valentine
Statistically, parents drawn to Valentine tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Everette, Alphonse, Henderson, Emile, and June.
EveretteAlphonseHendersonEmileJuneCharleyRoscoeClement
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Valentine | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 89 | #1793 |
| 2024 | 56 | #2444 |
| 2023 | 83 | #1896 |
| 2022 | 72 | #2083 |
| 2021 | 53 | #2499 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2228 |
| 2018 | 45 | #2708 |
| 2017 | 48 | #2597 |
| 2016 | 41 | #2885 |
| 2015 | 31 | #3513 |
| 2014 | 40 | #2885 |
| 2013 | 35 | #3122 |
| 2012 | 25 | #4003 |
| 2011 | 33 | #3306 |
| 2010 | 31 | #3453 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3721 |
| 2008 | 36 | #3165 |
| 2007 | 20 | #4640 |
| 2006 | 31 | #3384 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3091 |
| 2004 | 30 | #3217 |
| 2003 | 26 | #3443 |
| 2002 | 25 | #3450 |
| 2001 | 23 | #3617 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Valentine a popular boy name?
Valentine ranked #1794 among boys in 2025 with 89 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3513.
When was the name Valentine most popular?
Valentine peaked in 1918, when 142 American boys received the name (ranked #500 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Valentine?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,225 newborn American boys was named Valentine. It scores 48/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.