Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Valentino

Valentino is the Italian form of the Latin Valentinus which was an Old Roman family name originating as a nickname from “Valens” meaning “healthy, strong”. Most people are well aware of the person most associated with this name: that would be St. Valentine whose Feast Day is celebrated on, you guessed it, February 14th. In truth, not much is known about this 3rd century saint, but his cult and legends grew extensively in the later Middle Ages remembered as a martyr who was beheaded during the persecutions of Roman Emperor Claudius II for overseeing the marriage of Christian couples, and also for (gasp) having the audacity to attempt to convert the Emperor himself to Christianity. As the patron saint of love, young people and happy marriages, Valentine is most associated with the notions of romantic and chivalric love. The Italians use Valentino, the English and French use Valentine and the Spanish use Valentín. Valentino and Valentina are both experiencing somewhat of a revival in Europe right now.

All About the Baby Name – Valentino

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME VALENTINO

The number Four personality is marked by stability and discipline. This is the personality that follows the rules and is conservative by nature.  They have an earth-bound energy that prefers to build things methodically on top of firm foundations; they don't cut corners. Fours take their time and don't like to be hurried. But the outcome of their endeavors is likely to result in some strong and useful structure, which makes them great engineers and inventors. Fours are anything but frivolous or controversial. This is a trustworthy, straight-forward personality that embodies dedication and organization. They are the backbone and anchor in their relationships, careers and communities. They are tidy, punctual, and full of integrity. Hard-work comes naturally to a Four and they are immensely reliable. This is the personality you can always count on.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME VALENTINO

Valentino has an odd history of usage in the United States. The name did appear in the late 1920s for a couple years at pretty low levels of usage, and then promptly disappeared from circulation. Valentino’s brief stay on the charts between 1926 and 1928 was the direct result of the untimely death of silver-screen idol Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926). Parents across the nation scrambled to honor the movie star by bestowing his charming Italian moniker on their baby boys. The mass hysteria surrounding Valentino’s death would soon die down and eventually be forgotten. Valentino the name took a long 75+ year hiatus from usage in America; he only just returned to the charts in 2006. The name got another little push in popularity in 2008-2009 when pop star Ricky Martin named one of his darling twin boys Valentino in August 2008 (the other one is Matteo). Martin has described his son Matteo as the alpha-leader while Valentino is “mister peace and love” (we guess the name fits!). Valentino is still quite underused as a masculine name in the United States (although the Italian version is currently more popular than the Spanish version Valentín her in the U.S.). English-speakers in America do not have a tradition of using Valentine as a masculine or feminine name; although French speakers do. Various forms of this “love” name are also used quite readily among Slavic people. It is for this reason that we’d say Valentino has that special cross-cultural appeal; that cosmopolitan coolness. Adding to Valentino’s suave extravagance is Italian fashion designer Valentino. Like many Italian masculine names Valentino is both poetic and sensual. Tino is an obvious nickname.

Quick Facts

ON VALENTINO

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Italian

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

4

RANKING POPULARITY:

706

PRONUNCIATION:

vah-len-TEE-no

SIMPLE MEANING:

Healthy, strong; also Romantic Love

Characteristics

OF VALENTINO

Dependable

Solid

Practical

Hard-working

Industrious

Studious

Conservative

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Valentino

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME VALENTINO

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Valentino

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME VALENTINO

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Valentino


Popular Songs

ON VALENTINO

Valentino
a song by Connie Francis

Waiting for Valentino
a song by Cyndi Lauper

Mista Valentino (Interlude)
a song by Bobby V.

Frank to Valentino
a song by Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer

Famous People

NAMED VALENTINO

Valentino Garavani (Italian fashion designer known simply as Valentino)
Valentino Rossi (Italian motorcycle racer)
Bobby Valentino (singer)
Rudolph Valentino (early screen idol)
Valentino Orsini (Italian film director)
Valentino Pascucci (baseball player)
Valentino Leoni (9th century Pope)

Children of Famous People

NAMED VALENTINO

Ricky Martin;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME VALENTINO

Rudolph Valentino was an extraordinarily popular heart throb of the silent movie era of the 1920s, an Italian born sex symbol who starred in such well known films as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , The Sheik and Blood and Sand. Women swooned over him, men envied him and mothers adored him. His startling and unexpected death at the age of 31 of complications after an appendectomy was a shock to his fans; his New York funeral drew an estimated throng of 100,000 people to the streets, many in hysterics. Rudolph was surely the first major star of the film industry. Although he married twice and had several romantic liaisons, he never had children (as far as we know), so we’ll never know how those rather outré smoldering good looks might have translated to 21st century standards.

Rudolph Valentino was an extraordinarily popular heart throb of the silent movie era of the 1920s, an Italian born sex symbol who starred in such well known films as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , The Sheik and Blood and Sand. Women swooned over him, men envied him and mothers adored him. His startling and unexpected death at the age of 31 of complications after an appendectomy was a shock to his fans; his New York funeral drew an estimated throng of 100,000 people to the streets, many in hysterics. Rudolph was surely the first major star of the film industry. Although he married twice and had several romantic liaisons, he never had children (as far as we know), so we’ll never know how those rather outré smoldering good looks might have translated to 21st century standards.

Rudolph Valentino was an extraordinarily popular heart throb of the silent movie era of the 1920s, an Italian born sex symbol who starred in such well known films as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , The Sheik and Blood and Sand. Women swooned over him, men envied him and mothers adored him. His startling and unexpected death at the age of 31 of complications after an appendectomy was a shock to his fans; his New York funeral drew an estimated throng of 100,000 people to the streets, many in hysterics. Rudolph was surely the first major star of the film industry. Although he married twice and had several romantic liaisons, he never had children (as far as we know), so we’ll never know how those rather outré smoldering good looks might have translated to 21st century standards.