Val Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: val /væl/
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: strong; English: valor
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Val has its roots in the Latin word "valens," which means "strong" or "powerful." This Latin term evolved into various forms in different languages, leading to the Old French "Val" and the Italian "Valle," both of which retained the connotation of strength. The name made its way into English through the influence of Norman French following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adopted as a given name and also used as a surname.
Historically, the name Val has been associated with several notable figures. In the context of Christianity, Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century martyr, is one of the most recognized saints bearing a name derived from the same Latin root.
His feast day, celebrated on February 14, has become synonymous with love and affection, further enhancing the name's cultural significance. Additionally, in the realm of literature, the name Val has appeared in various works, contributing to its recognition in different contexts.
Culturally, the name Val has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing strength and valor. It has been used in various forms across different cultures, with diminutive forms such as "Vali" or "Valo" appearing in some contexts.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its strong etymological roots and the positive attributes associated with its meaning. As a name, Val encapsulates a sense of resilience and fortitude, making it a timeless choice across generations.
Famous people named Val
In this section, you will find notable people named Val. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Val who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Val who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Val Kilmer is an actor best known for Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors.
Fictional characters named Val
The following list of fictional characters named Val is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Val is a fictional character from the video game series Final Fantasy. They are a prominent character in Final Fantasy XIV, known for their role in the game's expansive narrative and lore.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Val, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Val. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Val was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Val has ranked as high as #1056 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in Utah, California, Texas, Idaho, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Val has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Val is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Val was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Val.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| 2023 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| 2022 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2002 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1998 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1997 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1996 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1994 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1993 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1992 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1991 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1990 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1989 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1986 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1985 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 1984 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1983 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1982 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1981 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1980 | 29 | 23 | 6 |
| 1979 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1978 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1977 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1976 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 1975 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1974 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1973 | 50 | 41 | 9 |
| 1972 | 53 | 41 | 12 |
| 1971 | 63 | 52 | 11 |
| 1970 | 69 | 58 | 11 |
| 1969 | 75 | 62 | 13 |
| 1968 | 65 | 48 | 17 |
| 1967 | 84 | 68 | 16 |
| 1966 | 83 | 64 | 19 |
| 1965 | 97 | 73 | 24 |
| 1964 | 114 | 77 | 37 |
| 1963 | 156 | 97 | 59 |
| 1962 | 161 | 102 | 59 |
| 1961 | 184 | 88 | 96 |
| 1960 | 197 | 122 | 75 |
| 1959 | 223 | 130 | 93 |
| 1958 | 237 | 127 | 110 |
| 1957 | 233 | 142 | 91 |
| 1956 | 253 | 168 | 85 |
| 1955 | 223 | 150 | 73 |
| 1954 | 217 | 148 | 69 |
| 1953 | 215 | 156 | 59 |
| 1952 | 226 | 178 | 48 |
| 1951 | 177 | 138 | 39 |
| 1950 | 174 | 138 | 36 |
| 1949 | 157 | 132 | 25 |
| 1948 | 153 | 129 | 24 |
| 1947 | 140 | 116 | 24 |
| 1946 | 124 | 105 | 19 |
| 1945 | 92 | 71 | 21 |
| 1944 | 103 | 87 | 16 |
| 1943 | 87 | 71 | 16 |
| 1942 | 129 | 103 | 26 |
| 1941 | 82 | 74 | 8 |
| 1940 | 103 | 84 | 19 |
| 1939 | 95 | 80 | 15 |
| 1938 | 97 | 78 | 19 |
| 1937 | 91 | 71 | 20 |
| 1936 | 100 | 75 | 25 |
| 1935 | 91 | 77 | 14 |
| 1934 | 70 | 63 | 7 |
| 1933 | 85 | 67 | 18 |
| 1932 | 91 | 69 | 22 |
| 1931 | 72 | 56 | 16 |
| 1930 | 76 | 65 | 11 |
| 1929 | 66 | 44 | 22 |
| 1928 | 62 | 57 | 5 |
| 1927 | 59 | 52 | 7 |
| 1926 | 50 | 39 | 11 |
| 1925 | 54 | 40 | 14 |
| 1924 | 46 | 37 | 9 |
| 1923 | 72 | 61 | 11 |
| 1922 | 45 | 37 | 8 |
| 1921 | 41 | 32 | 9 |
| 1920 | 52 | 37 | 15 |
| 1919 | 39 | 28 | 11 |
| 1918 | 40 | 34 | 6 |
| 1917 | 48 | 37 | 11 |
| 1916 | 40 | 35 | 5 |
| 1915 | 42 | 28 | 14 |
| 1914 | 24 | 18 | 6 |
| 1913 | 30 | 24 | 6 |
| 1912 | 27 | 22 | 5 |
| 1911 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1910 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1909 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1908 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1907 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1906 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1903 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1902 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1900 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1898 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1897 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1890 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1886 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1885 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1882 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Val (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |