Valens as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Valens

What is the meaning of the name Valens ?

The baby name Valens is a boy name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced VAY-lenz.

Valens is Latin in Origin.

Valens is Latin in origin, from the classical adjective valēns, the present participle of valēre, to be strong, be well, or have power. Its earliest recoverable form is Latin Valens, used both as an ordinary descriptor and as a Roman cognomen. Morphologically, the -ēns ending marks an active participle, so the literal sense is one who is strong, vigorous, effective, or healthy.

As a cognomen, Valens belonged to Roman naming practice before becoming familiar through Late Antique figures, especially the Eastern emperor Flavius Valens, killed at Adrianople in 378. Christian calendars also preserve clerical bearers, including early bishops in Italy. Greek sources render the imperial name as Οὐάλης, Oualēs. Later Romance forms include Italian and Iberian Valente, while Valentinus and its descendants share the same Latin root. In modern English-speaking use, Valens is rare and chiefly classical or ecclesiastical in flavor.