The Latin word meaning “strong and healthy” underlying the name Valentine is valens.
Valentine comes from the Roman family name Valentinus, which was derived from the Latin adjective valens. Besides “strong” and “healthy,” valens could suggest vigor, power, or capability. The name therefore began as a description of strength before becoming a personal name.
Valentinus was used by several early Christian saints, helping the name spread through European languages. Saint Valentine, a third-century martyr associated with February 14, gave the name its enduring romantic and religious associations. Valentine is used for all genders in English, while Valentina is a common feminine form in several languages.
A common mix-up is confusing valens with Latin words such as felix (“fortunate” or “happy”) or amatus (“loved”). Those ideas fit Valentine’s Day themes, but they are not the name’s linguistic root.