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Home › Baby Names Directory › Whitney

Whitney

♂ Boy

Pronounced WHIT-nee /ˈwɪt.ni/High

Meaning: From an English place/surname — Old English hwit, 'white', plus eg, 'an island', or ea, 'water'; 'the white island; the white water'; used for both sexes; here for boysLow

In 30 seconds: The white island; the white water: Whitney is an English place/surname. Crisp, classic, and warm. Used for both sexes (here for boys; said 'WHIT-nee').
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningFrom an English place/surname — Old English hwit, 'white', plus eg, 'an island', or ea, 'water'; 'the white island; the white water'; used for both sexes; here for boys
U.S. rank (2024)#6786 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births13 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1986
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,979

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198618842024

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

Whitney comes from an English place and surname — Old English hwit, 'white', plus eg, 'an island', or ea, 'water' — 'the white island; the white water' (borne by inventor Eli Whitney). Used for both sexes, here for boys (slug distinguished; said 'WHIT-nee'; nickname Whit).

In the U.S. it now leans female but was first a boys'/surname name. Rare for boys, the-white-island at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Whitney joins the Old English hwit, 'white', with eg, 'an island' — 'the white island; the white water' — a crisp, classic place/surname-name, used for both sexes (here for boys; said 'WHIT-nee').
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Whitney — unisex; place/surname

Variations

WitneyWhitny

Nicknames

Whit

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Whitney…

Whit— a short form of it
Weston— a sound-neighbor W- surname boys' name
Wesley— another W- place/surname boys' name
Woodley— shares the -ey ending
Wrenley— the same unisex feel

Explore names like Whitney

By themeuncertainenglishunisexsurname-nameplace-name
By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Whitney mean?

Whitney is an English place/surname — 'the white island; the white water'.

How do you pronounce Whitney?

It's said WHIT-nee /ˈwɪt.ni/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Whitney a boy or girl name?

Whitney is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Whitney?

Whitney is a rare name for boys in the U.S. today.

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