Valley

An uncommon Old French pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysOld FrenchRising fast Also a pet name
#1520 1060in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A surname from landforms.

Valley is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old French origin, from the Latin vallis meaning 'valley' — a low area between hills or mountains. As a given name, it evokes the peaceful, sheltered quality of valleys: protected, fertile, and full of life while surrounded by larger forces.

Valley belongs to the emerging category of landscape names alongside River, Canyon, and Bay. It has a quiet, pastoral beauty — a name that suggests someone grounded, calm, and sheltered by the world around them. Gentle and natural without being precious.

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Popularity Over Time

Valley has 50+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1888.

036711071421900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Valley
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s318
2010s104
2000s5
1990s11
1970s10
1960s18
1950s23
1940s9
1930s24
1920s63
1910s44
1900s32
1880s7

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(50 years, 18882024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Valley
YearBirthsRank
2024142#1520
202369#2580
202243#3643
202145#3487
202019#6302
201917#6995
201813#8572
201715#7812
201615#7956
20157#14386
201410#10901
20139#11898
20126#16711
201012#9744
20075#20392
19976#13656
19945#15671
19775#11268
19755#10558
19675#7801

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Valley as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Valley has also been given to 50 boys in the U.S. since 1914.

#10796
Current rank
50
Total births
1928
Peak year
Compare Valley as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Valley be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Valley is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1520. As a boy's name, it ranks #10796.

Valley has two lives

Valley, the baby name
#1520girls
668 babies
Currently viewing
Valley, the pet name
#17317pet name
3 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18882024) · Methodology