Whitney
Whitney is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
White island or clear island.
Origin and history
Whitney is an English name originally derived from a surname and place name meaning 'white island'. Although historically used for both boys and girls, it is less common for boys today in the United States. Its usage as a masculine name has seen steady, low-level record counts in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
5,994 babies in the United States have been named Whitney since 1880. It ranks #1559 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1837.
States where it is most popular
- LA (36.8 %)
- TX (10 %)
- CA (10 %)
- NY (8.6 %)
- AL (3.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 17 |
| 1890-1900 | 21 |
| 1900-1910 | 59 |
| 1910-1920 | 334 |
| 1920-1930 | 434 |
| 1930-1940 | 327 |
| 1940-1950 | 416 |
| 1950-1960 | 507 |
| 1960-1970 | 786 |
| 1970-1980 | 834 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,629 |
| 1990-2000 | 302 |
| 2000-2010 | 146 |
| 2010-2019 | 92 |
| 2020-2029 | 90 |
Famous people named Whitney
- Whitney Moore Young Jr.: Civil rights activist, Executive director of the National Urban League
Nicknames
Whit
Fun facts
- The name stems from Old English words 'hwīt' (white) and 'ēag' or 'ēy' (island or stream-land).
- Whitney was originally used as a locational surname before transitioning into a given name in English-speaking regions.