Valley
A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over a very long period. Some valleys are formed through erosion by glacial ice. These glaciers may remain present in valleys in high mountains or polar areas.
Meaning & Origin of Valley
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over a very long period. Some valleys are formed through erosion by glacial ice. These glaciers may remain present in valleys in high mountains or polar areas.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Valley
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Valley as a girl name dates back to 1888, when 7 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 145 newborns named Valley — #1,500 in the national rankings. About 63% of every Valley on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Valley ranks #1,500 for girls with 145 births, rising sharply (+387% over the past five years). All told, over 945 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Valley on the record books as a boy name in 1914, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1928, when 9 Valleys were born — ranking #2,843 that year. About 62% of every Valley on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. Valley last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 50 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Valley
Phonetically similar names — useful when Valley is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Valley
What does the name Valley mean?
How popular is Valley in 2026?
When was Valley most popular?
In which U.S. states is Valley most popular?
Is Valley a unisex name?
What names go well with Valley?
About the name Valley
Valley is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1888 and has accumulated 945 births in the dataset. Valley's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,036. Use the chart and map above to compare Valley's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "V" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.