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Whitman

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIT-mən /ˈwɪt.mən/High

Meaning: From an English surname — Old English hwit, 'white, fair', plus man — 'white/fair man'High

In 30 seconds: Literary and crisp: Whitman is the English 'white/fair man' — distinguished, poetic, and bold (poet Walt Whitman). A name with verse and pedigree.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningFrom an English surname — Old English hwit, 'white, fair', plus man — 'white/fair man'

U.S. rank (2024)#4174 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births26 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 868

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

Whitman comes from an English surname — Old English hwit, 'white, fair', plus man — 'white/fair man'. A distinguished, literary surname-name (Walt Whitman), it has poetic, refined appeal.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, white/fair-man at the root, and literary.

Did you know? Walt Whitman, author of Leaves of Grass, made this surname literary — it means 'white/fair man' (Old English hwit plus man).

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Whitman — etymology

Variations

WhitmannWitman

Nicknames

Whit

Famous Bearers

★Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
American poet celebrated for Leaves of Grass and his free-verse style
★Whitman Mayo (1930-2001)
American actor known for playing Grady Wilson on the TV series Sanford and Son

If you like Whitman…

Whitaker— a fellow Whit- surname

Whitt— a short form within it

Emerson— a companion literary surname-name

Everett— another distinguished name

Explore names like Whitman

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Whitman mean?

Whitman is an English surname for 'white/fair man'.

How do you pronounce Whitman?

It's said WIT-mən /ˈwɪt.mən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Whitman a boy or girl name?

Whitman is a boy's name.

How popular is Whitman?

Whitman is a rare name in the U.S.