US Popularity:1784
Origin:British
Meaning:By the white island
Originally a surname, Whitney is a gender-neutral name of British origin. Meaning "by the white island," in Old English, Whitney is rooted in the small parish of Whitney-on-Wye in Herefordshire. First recorded as Witenie, meaning "white water," the area was so named for the River Wye, which runs peacefully through it. One of the longest rivers in the UK, the Wye flows through the mountains and moorlands of Wales before caressing England's enchanting forests and villages. Defined by a weaving river of torrential tendencies and diverse twists and turns, Whitney is a name that fully embraces the mischief of life.

Famous People Named Whitney

Wondering who else shares this name? Check out these well known people who made this baby name famous.
  • Eli Whitney
    Inventor
  • Whitney Houston
    Singer

Whitney Name Popularity Data

The Bump Ranking

Overall:Whitney is currently #1299 on The Bump
Boy:Whitney is currently #945 on The Bump Boy Names
Girl:Whitney is currently #702 on The Bump Girl Names

U.S. Births

Overall:Whitney is currently #1784 in U.S. births
Boy:Whitney is currently #12872 in U.S. births
Girl:Whitney is currently #1870 in U.S. births

Yearly Ranking Change:

Year:
2023
Gender:
Girl
#1870
in 2023
+ 116
from 2022
In comparison to the previous year's data
Sources
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.

Search Gender-Neutral Baby Names

Search by:

  • Name or Meaning
  • Filter
  • Letter