Valerie

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Valerie
Gender:	Female
Origin:	English
Derived:	Latin, from Roman family clan name Valerius
Variants:	Val (pet form), Valérie (French), Valeria (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)
Meaning:	strong, brave (valiant)

Valerie is a female given name in English, derived directly from the French Valérie. Valerie is also used as a nickname for Valeria. Both are often shortened to Val.

The French masculine forms can be Valėre, Valérie or Valéry. Both feminine and masculine forms have derivatives in many European languages, and are especially common in Russian and other Eastern European languages.

Valéry or "Valery" is a masculine given name name in parts of Europe (particularly in France and Russia), as well as a common surname in Francophone countries. It does not always have the same origin or meaning.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 In religion 3 Songs 4 Other

[edit] Etymology

The original Latin clan name, Valerius, is masculine and denotes strength, health or boldness. Valeria is simply the feminine form of this. Both masculine and feminine given names are derived via French into other languages.

In Catholic Europe, given names always related the individual to a saint, so the popularity of a name often reflected the importance of the cult of a saint. There were several important saints who bore the name and were widely venerated in the middle ages, as well as more locally in recent times. St Valerie of Limoges probably exercised the greatest influence in spreading the name. Her cult was practised on the very important Way of St James and, as a cephalophore, she became a favourite subject for the early modern ceramics industry.

The majority of the variant spellings are of recent, mainly 20th century, origin, with fashions often following the forms adopted in popular songs.

The name Valéry is ambiguous. It can also be development of, or synonym for, the name Walric or Walarich, which is of Germanic origin and signifies “foreign power”. A notable example is Walric, abbot of Leuconay. Both St Valéry and St Valérie are common elements in French place-names, often used optionally for the same place. It is impossible to be sure of the precise dedication without further research.

[edit] In religion

• Valerie of Limoges, according to legend, an associate of St Martial, a cephalophoric martyr and an important subject of Limoges porcelain.
• Valeria of Milan, often known as St Valerie, venerated in Thibodaux, Louisiana
• Valeria, a Christian saint martyred with Anesius

[edit] Songs

• "Valleri," rock song made popular by The Monkees
• "Valerie" (Steve Winwood song)
• "Valerie" (The Zutons song)
• "Valerie", song by Brother Firetribe
• "Valerie", song by Reel Big Fish
• "Valerie", song by Louisiana Red
• "Valerie", song by Bad Company
• "Valerie", song by Ghost of the Robot
• "Valarie", song by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
• "Valerie Loves Me" a song by Material Issue
• "Hey, Valerie!", song by The Derailers
• "Valerie", song by Richard Thompson
• "Valerie", song by Broadcast
• "Valerie", song by Gods of the Radio
• "Valerie", song by Starlite Singers
• "Valerie", song by Crooked Fingers
• "Valerie", song by Alex Wilson
• "Valerie", song by PTM
• "Valerie", song by Singing Loins
• "Valerie", song by Amy Winehouse

[edit] Other

• Valerie (game character), a character in Breath of Fire II
• Valerie (TV series), better known as The Hogan Family
• Valerie, a character in the animated series Frisky Dingo

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