Given name & surname
Whitney
“from the white island”
Whitney is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the white island.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the white island.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Whitney through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 103,657
- 5,994 boys · 97,663 girls
- Most popular year
- 1986
- 9,781 babies
- 2025
- 251
- #1,046 for girls · #6,782 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 4% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 238 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,046 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 22.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 9,536 in 1986. It also appeared in 13 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (27). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 88,892 as a first name in 2020; 33,509 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Whitney’s family of names
Whitney has a related form in Whittney. Whitney has a related form in Whitnee. Whitney has a related form in Whitnie.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 24
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Whitney
- Whitney HoustonAmerican singer, actress, and film producer (1963–2012)
- Whitney Wolfe HerdAmerican businesswomanborn 1989
- Whitney CummingsAmerican actress, comedian and writer (born 1982)
- Whitney Smithfounder of vexillology (1940–2016)
- Whitney PeakUgandan-Canadian actressborn 2003
- Whitney AbleAmerican actress and modelborn 1982
- Whitney PortAmerican fashion designerborn 1985
- Whitney ThompsonAmerican modelborn 1987
- Whitney EngenAmerican soccer playerborn 1987
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Whitney, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Whitley
“from the white meadow”
15% boys · 85% girls
Courtney
“a courteous woman; courtly” · “a courteous man; courtly”
26% boys · 74% girls
Halley
“from the hall near the meadow”
>99% girls
Kelsey
“from the island of ships; of the ship's victory”
2% boys · 98% girls
Ashley
“ash” · “wood”
1% boys · 99% girls
Hayley
“from the field of hay”
>99% girls
Christina
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Kendra
“having royal power; from the high hill” · “a royal ruler”
>99% girls