Whitney
Whitney: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɪtni/ · /ˈʍɪtni/
Meaning and origin of Whitney
Root meaning: “white”
- A female given name transferred from the surname, popular in the 1980s and 1990s due to the fame of Whitney Houston.
- A male given name from surname.
Etymology
From Old English hwītan, dative of hwīt (“white”) + īeġ (“island”), "white island".
How popular is Whitney?
Since 1880, 97,663 girls and 5,994 boys in the U.S. have been named Whitney (94% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #32 in 1986. Its highest rank for boys was #567 in 1986. In 2025, 251 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Whitney
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for Whitney
Sister and brother names that share Whitney's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Whitney FAQ
What does the name Whitney mean?
Whitney traces back to a root meaning "white". A female given name transferred from the surname, popular in the 1980s and 1990s due to the fame of Whitney Houston. A male given name from surname. From Old English hwītan, dative of hwīt (“white”) + īeġ (“island”), "white island".
What is the origin of the name Whitney?
Whitney is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Whitney?
Since 1880, 97,663 girls and 5,994 boys in the U.S. have been named Whitney (94% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #32 in 1986. Its highest rank for boys was #567 in 1986. In 2025, 251 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Whitney a boy or girl name?
Whitney is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 97,663 girls and 5,994 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.