The original Latin name of the city was Valentia (), meaning "strength", or "valour", the city being named according to the Roman practice of recognising the valour of former Roman soldiers after a war.
During the rule of the Muslim kingdoms in Spain, it had the nickname Medina bu-Tarab ('City of Joy') according to a transliteration, or Medina at-Turab ('City of Sands') according to another, since it was located on the banks of the River Turia.