A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Whit since 1881
Babies named Whit per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Whit's real moment was 1886.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 39 |
| 1890s | 23 |
| 1900s | 35 |
| 1910s | 77 |
| 1920s | 99 |
| 1930s | 46 |
| 1940s | 55 |
| 1950s | 81 |
| 1960s | 63 |
| 1970s | 52 |
| 1980s | 36 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 89 |
| 2010s | 228 |
| 2020s | 350 |
Meaning & origin
Whit has a long history in the United States, first recorded in 1881, with its peak popularity in 1886. After nearly a century of decline, it began rising again in 1997 and has continued to climb since then. Today it ranks 1942, or 1 in 21,621 boys, and remains most common in states like Kansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Its brevity and harsh consonant sound give it a modern, crisp feel, while its roots as a nickname for Whitman or Whitney keep it grounded in English naming tradition.
Whit originated as a diminutive of names like Whitman (meaning 'white man') or Whitney (meaning 'white island'). It also appears as a surname derived from the Old English word 'hwīt', meaning 'white'. Historically used as a nickname or shortened form, it gained some popularity as an independent given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Where Whit is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Whit
Names that share Whit's style, for a brother or sister.
