Whitney

Meaning

Whitney began as an English place name and surname, built from Old English elements usually understood as "hwit" meaning "white" and "eg" or "ey" meaning "island" or "dry land in a marsh," though some interpretations connect the name with a "white water" sense. As a given name, it was later adopted from the surname and is now used chiefly as a first name. In modern use, it is generally treated as a stylish surname name rather than a name with a direct devotional or biblical meaning.

Origin

Fun fact

Whitney became especially popular as a girls’ name in the United States in the late 20th century.