Whitney first name popularity, history and meaning

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.

Meaning of Whitney

A feminine name of English origin meaning "from the white island meadow".

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!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 16 262
2022 16 244
2021 21 246
2020 11 273
2019 8 303
2018 8 299
2017 13 328
2016 12 375
2015 7 446
2014 15 463
2013 9 482
2012 5 522
2011 5 563
2010 10 541
2009 9 595
2008 8 542
2007 11 533
2006 19 564
2005 11 652
2004 24 676
2003 15 675
2002 15 851
2001 11 899
2000 23 1,194
1999 18 1,426
1998 16 1,611
1997 17 1,961
1996 27 2,310
1995 26 2,780
1994 25 3,566
1993 25 4,077
1992 32 4,010
1991 38 5,240
1990 77 5,905
1989 81 6,306
1988 115 7,854
1987 155 8,920
1986 245 9,537
1985 236 3,832
1984 201 2,288
1983 166 1,688
1982 154 1,478
1981 135 1,302
1980 141 1,169
1979 131 950
1978 105 778
1977 89 693
1976 66 533
1975 65 412
1974 73 368

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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"Whitney first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/whitney-meaning-and-history/.

"Whitney first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/whitney-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Whitney first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/whitney-meaning-and-history/.

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