Valentina

Valentina is the feminine form of Valentinus, a Latin name derived from valens, meaning strong or healthy. It was borne by early Christian martyrs and saints, helping to spread the name throughout Catholic and Orthodox Europe, and it remains widely used across Italian, Spanish, Slavic, and Baltic cultures. The name gained modern prominence partly through Valentina Tereshkova, the Soviet cosmonaut who in 1963 became the first woman to travel in space. Related forms include Valentine, Valentin, and Valentino.