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Valentina

Girl name · 177 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Valentina: 177 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 17 births in 2017.

Valentina is the feminine form of the Latin name Valentinus, derived from *valens* meaning "strong, healthy" or "vigorous." The most famous bearer is Valentina Tereshkova, the Russian cosmonaut who became the first woman in space in 1963. The name also belongs to the Roman martyr Saint Valentine, whose feast day on 14 February shares the same etymological root—though the saint’s connection to romance came later. No major places are named directly after Valentina, but the related Valentine is a town in Texas and an island in the South Shetlands. A notable variant is the Italian Valentino, while in Scotland the name has grown steadily in popularity since the 1990s, reflecting its enduring, cross-cultural appeal as a strong yet elegant choice.