Valérie
/va.le.ʁi/feminine
Valérie is the French way to say the female given name Valerie.
Valérie is a feminine given name.
Meaning: female given name (name)
Which one should you use?
While Valérie is the standard form, you may encounter informal variations such as Val or the more endearing Valou.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /va.le.ʁi/.
Did you know?
- The name Valérie is the feminine version of Valère, which comes from the Latin word valere, meaning 'to be strong' or 'to be healthy'.
- The nickname Valou follows a common French linguistic pattern of adding '-ou' to a name to create a 'petit nom' or an affectionate pet name.
- Because 'Valérie' is a classic name, it often carries a specific 'vintage' connotation in France, much like the name 'Barbara' might in English.
Examples in context
- Salut Val, ça te dit de sortir ce soir?Hey Val, do you want to go out tonight?
- Bonne journée, Valou!Have a great day, Valou!
- Je connais une femme qui s'appelle Valérie.I know a woman named Valérie.
- Est-ce que Valérie vient à la fête ?Is Valérie coming to the party?
- Valérie est une excellente cuisinière.Valérie is an excellent cook.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about a mutual friend at a cafe.
- HugoTu as vu Valérie récemment ?Have you seen Valérie recently?
- ManonNon, je n'ai pas parlé à Valérie cette semaine.No, I haven't spoken to Valérie this week.
- HugoElle est très occupée avec son nouveau travail.She is very busy with her new job.
- ManonC'est vrai, elle travaille beaucoup en ce moment.That's true, she is working a lot lately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “valerie” translations and entries Valérie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
