Find out how popular the first name Whitney has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Whitney by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Whitney is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 97% of people named Whitney being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 262 female babies and 16 male babies born with the name Whitney.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 16 baby boys were named Whitney in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Whitney

The name Whitney has its origins in Old English, deriving from the words "hwit" and "ey," which together translate to "white island" or "white meadow." It is believed to have originated as a surname in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, referring to a person who lived near a white meadow or on a white island.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Whitney can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named "Whitene" in Hertfordshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Whitney remained primarily a surname, particularly prevalent in the counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire in England. It wasn't until the 16th century that Whitney started to gain popularity as a given name, initially for males.

One of the earliest known individuals with the first name Whitney was Whitney Smith, an English-born colonist who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. Born in 1589, he is considered one of the founders of the town of Stratford, Connecticut.

Another notable figure was Whitney Caleb, a Baptist minister and educator born in 1742 in Rhode Island. He served as the first president of Transylvania University in Kentucky and played a significant role in the establishment of several educational institutions in the American frontier.

In the 19th century, Whitney emerged as a popular given name for both males and females. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Eli Whitney, the American inventor born in 1765, best known for his revolutionary cotton gin.

As the name became increasingly associated with femininity, several notable women bore the name Whitney. Whitney Ellsworth was an American educator and activist born in 1827, who advocated for women's rights and co-founded the Woman's Hospital in New York City.

Another remarkable individual was Whitney Moore Young Jr., a civil rights leader born in 1921, who served as the executive director of the National Urban League and played a crucial role in the advancement of civil rights in the United States.

While the name Whitney has its roots in Old English and was initially used as a surname, it has evolved into a popular given name, particularly for females, with a rich history spanning centuries and encompassing individuals from various fields and backgrounds.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Whitney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Whitney, please contact us.

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