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The short answer
Whitney is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the English surname Whitney, originally derived from a place name probably meaning ‘white island’, from Old English hwit and ieg. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012)." It ranked #1046 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the English surname Whitney, originally derived from a place name probably meaning ‘white island’, from Old English hwit and ieg. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012). The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Whitney ranked #1046 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #1046 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Whitney in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Whitney mean?
Whitney means "white island", according to Behind the Name.
Is Whitney a popular name?
Whitney ranked #1046 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Whitney a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Whitney appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine & masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Whitney — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
