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Whitaker
♂ Boy
Pronounced WIT-uh-ker /ˈwɪt.ə.kər/High
Meaning: white field, pale meadowMedium
In 30 seconds: Whitaker is an Old English surname name meaning white field or pale meadow. A dignified three-syllable name with literary associations through actor Forest Whitaker.
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Origin HighOld English
Meaningwhite field, pale meadow
U.S. rank (2025)#2181 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births66 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 847
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Whitaker is an Old English place name and surname from hwit (white, pale) + acer (field), meaning white field.
Whitaker has been used as a given name in the US, following the surname-as-first-name trend.
Did you know? The Whitaker family name has been associated with American Quaker communities since the colonial period — Quakers valued white (purity) in their naming traditions.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name: Whitaker — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data
Variations
WhitWhitfieldWhitley
Nicknames
WhitTaker
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Frequently Asked
What does Whitaker mean?
Whitaker means white field, pale meadow.
How do you pronounce Whitaker?
Whitaker is pronounced WIT-uh-ker (/ˈwɪt.ə.kər/), with 3 syllables.
Is Whitaker a boy's name?
Yes, Whitaker is used as a boy's name.
How popular is the name Whitaker?
Old English place name; white field meaning well established.