Valery is a name of Russian origin, derived from the Latin word "valere," which means "to be strong" or "to be healthy." It is also related to the Latin name Valerius, which was borne by several prominent figures in ancient Rome.
In Russia, Valery has been a popular masculine given name for centuries. It gained prominence during the Russian Empire and was used frequently among the nobility. Some famous Russians with the name Valery include Valery Bryusov, a prominent Symbolist poet; Valery Legasov, a chemist who played a significant role in the cleanup efforts following the Chernobyl disaster; and Valery Gergiev, a renowned conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre.
The name Valery is also used as a feminine given name in some Slavic countries, particularly in Bulgaria. However, it is more commonly associated with men and has been traditionally male throughout its history.
In Western cultures, Valery may be less familiar than some other names of Latin origin, such as Valentine or Valerie. Nevertheless, it has been used in various forms in different languages for centuries and has a rich historical background. Today, Valery continues to be popular among parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their children.
In summary, Valery is a name of Russian origin that means "to be strong" or "to be healthy." It has a long history of use among the nobility in Russia and has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. While it may be less familiar in some Western cultures, it remains a popular choice for parents seeking meaningful names for their children.
The popularity of the name Valery has seen significant fluctuations over time. In its early years, from 1920 to 1945, it experienced modest peaks and valleys, ranging from a low of 5 births per year to a high of 14 in 1944. However, starting from the late 1940s, there was a notable increase in its usage, with the highest number of births reaching 27 in 1949.
This trend continued into the 1950s and 1960s, with the name Valery achieving its peak popularity during this period. The decade between 1952 and 1962 saw an average of over 40 births per year, with a high of 56 in 1958 and another peak of 50 in both 1961 and 1964.
However, after the mid-1960s, the popularity of Valery began to decline. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the number of births had decreased significantly, averaging around 25 per year with a low of just 17 in 1980.
Despite this decline, there was another resurgence in popularity from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. During this time, the name Valery experienced modest increases, reaching a high of 67 births in 1997 and 82 in 1998.
Since then, the usage of the name has continued to fluctuate, but it remains relatively popular. In recent years, from 2014 onwards, there have been over 190 births per year on average, with a high of 351 in 2022 and 335 in 2023.
In total, over the course of these 102 years (from 1920 to 2023), there have been a total of 8099 births with the name Valery.