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Comments and insights on the name Valerian: | Edit

In other languages: Valerianus, Valerius (Ancient Roman), Valère (French), Valerio (Italian), Walerian, Walery (Polish), Valerio (Portuguese), Valeriu, Vali (Romanian), Valeri, Valeriy, Valery (Russian), Valerio (Spanish)

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Meanings and history of the name Valerian: | Edit

Latin name meaning "strong"

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves.

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This was the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor. Several saints also had this name, including a 2nd-century martyr of Lyons.

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