Walherich is an Old German name composed of the elements walah “foreigner, Celt, Roman” and rih “ruler, king”. It is the Old German form of the French name Valéry.Etymology and MeaningThe name originates from the Proto-Germanic language, where elements from two words were combined to create a name meaning “foreigner-ruler” or “Celt-ruler”. Over time, the name entered Old French as Valéry, often confused with the unrelated Latin-derived name Valère.Notable BearersWalherich is closely related to Saint Walaric (also spelled Valery), a 7th-century Frankish monk and hermit. According to tradition, he founded an abbey near Leuconaus (modern Saint-Valery-sur-Somme) at the mouth of the Somme River. His feast day is April 1 or December 12 in different calendars.Walaric is a common variant form of Walherich, as seen in other Germanic names like Walaric.Links to ValeriusDespite seeming to contain the Latin root valere “to be strong”, Walherich is not formally derived from Valerius. The common influence of the name Valerius, from the Roman family name of several early saints, has sometimes caused confusion between the two names. In many modern contexts, the name Walherich may be used as a variant of Valéry, keeping both the “foreign-ruler” origin and cross-association with strength and sainthood.Meaning: foreigner-rulerOrigin: GermanicType: first nameMain Usage: Old German, Old French