Valor Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Valor

Pronunciation: VAL-er

Meaning Courage, especially in battle Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,254
TREND
209
GIRLS RANK
#5,900
TREND
1,645

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Valor in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Valor

  • More than 1 thousand babies named Valor: U.S. records list 1,679 babies given the name Valor from 1880 through 2025. Even 188 girls received the name Valor - about 1 girl for every 8 boys.

What Does the Name Valor Mean?

Valor is an English word name taken directly from the noun valor, meaning courage or bravery, particularly in the face of danger or in combat. The English word comes through Old French valour from Late Latin valor, which in turn comes from the Latin verb valēre, "to be strong, be well, be worth." In classical Latin the noun valor carried the sense of "worth" or "value" as well as "courage," and the modern English word keeps mainly the second sense. The name therefore means literally "courage" or "bravery," with an older underlying idea of strength and worth.

Valor Name History & Origins

As a given name, Valor belongs to the English tradition of word names - ordinary vocabulary words used as personal names, a category that also includes names such as Grace, Hope, and Honor. The word itself has a long history in English and in the Romance languages, where Spanish and Portuguese valor and Italian valore similarly mean both "value" and "courage." Its use as a personal name, however, is a much more recent development and remains uncommon; it appears mainly in modern English-speaking use rather than in medieval or early modern naming records.

The name is not a shortened form of Valerie or a variant of Valentine, though it shares a root with the Latin family of names derived from valēre, including Valerius and its feminine form Valeria. Unlike those names, Valor was not inherited from Roman naming practice; it was adopted from the common noun itself.

How Popular is the Name Valor?

Valor has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,254 in 2025.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore More Lists with Name Valor

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with V

See List of Most Popular Boy Names Starting with V

Short Boy Names That Start with V

Discover Short Boy Names Starting with V

How the Name Valor Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Valor's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Valor's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
Explore Insights & Tips

Name Search