Valjean: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	10	–	10	1	–	#5,262
1920s	67	23	90	9	+800%	#2,420
1930s	95	16	111	11	+23%	#2,413
1940s	93	–	93	9	-16%	#2,987
1950s	114	–	114	11	+23%	#2,588
1960s	46	–	46	5	-60%	#3,203
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#5,262

1920s

+800%

#2,420

1930s

111

+23%

#2,413

1940s

–

-16%

#2,987

1950s

114

–

114

+23%

#2,588

1960s

–

-60%

#3,203

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Valjean

Valjean is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1917, 464 American babies have been named Valjean, about 92% girls and 8% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1929, when 25 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Valjean stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Valjean?

The median living Valjean is about 73 years old; half are between 67 and 80. An estimated 200 people named Valjean are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Valjean year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	16	#3,203	–	–
1955	13	#3,369	–	–
1950	8	#4,292	–	–
1945	10	#3,117	–	–
1940	9	#3,191	–	–
1935	5	#4,842	–	–
1930	14	#2,413	6	#3,972
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Valjean, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Valjean?

The median living Valjean is about 73 years old. Half of all living Valjeans are between 67 and 80 years old.

How many people named Valjean are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Valjean are alive in the United States, based on 464 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Valjean in 2025?

Valjean did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Valjean?

464 babies have been named Valjean in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Valjean most popular?

Valjean peaked in 1929, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Valjean a boy or girl name?

Valjean is used for both: about 92% of babies named Valjean have been girls and 8% boys.

Is the name Valjean rising or falling?

Valjean has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Valjean

Valjean popularity over time

The story of Valjean

How old are people named Valjean?

Valjean year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Valjean