Meaning & History
Valentinus is a Latin name originating as the Roman cognomen Valentinus, a derivative of Valens, meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy" in Latin. It is the original form of the name Valentine, which first gained prominence through Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century martyr whose feast day on February 14 became associated with love after coinciding with the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. The name was occasionally used as an English given name from the 12th century onward, further popularized by Shakespeare's character Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Historically, Valentinus is also noted as the name of a 2nd-century Gnostic theologian born in Egypt and active in Rome, often called Valentine in English. His teachings blended Christian and Platonic elements, and his name survives in historical and theological studies. Known attested forms include the nominative Valentīnus, with cognates in many languages: for instance, the feminine form Valentina, and linguistically adapted versions such as Balendin (Basque), Valentin (Swedish, etc.), Valentí (Catalan), Tin (Croatian), Valent (Croatian), and Valentýn (Czech). In Latin, the name formed a basis for a large family, including the English name Valentine and Italian Valentino.
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Valentinus