About the name Valeri / Valery
Etymology & meaning
Valeri comes from the Latin family name Valerius, derived from valere — "to be healthy, to be strong". A wish for health by its very root; the feminine counterpart is Valeriya.
History & patron saint
The Bulgarian name day falls in early June, on the memory of the martyrs of the Valerius circle — the calendar keeps several early Christian martyrs of this family name. Valeri and Valeriya celebrate together.
Traditions & customs
The feast is an early-summer one — treats outdoors with cherries and the first fruits of summer. Toasts follow the name's root: "health and strength".
Popularity & notable bearers
Valeri is a popular name of Bulgaria's postwar generations, peaking in the 1960s–70s; it was borne by Valeri Petrov — one of the country's best-loved poets and its Shakespeare translator.