Declining since 2017.
Popularity of Whitfield since 1890
Babies named Whitfield per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Whitfield's real moment was 1890.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 71 |
| 1920s | 117 |
| 1930s | 40 |
| 1940s | 26 |
| 1950s | 36 |
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 22 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 52 |
| 2020s | 33 |
Meaning & origin
Whitfield is a rare English surname name that has seen sporadic use as a given name since the 1800s. According to Social Security Administration data, it first appeared on record in 1890, which is also its peak year with a handful of registrations. Since then, its usage has been very low, with fewer than five newborns receiving the name in most years. After 2017, the name entered a falling trajectory, meaning it has been given even less frequently in recent years. No top states have shown notable usage. Whitfield remains a distinctive, under-the-radar choice for parents seeking a traditional English surname as a first name. Its meaning, 'white field', evokes pastoral imagery, and the nickname Whit offers a friendly, one-syllable option.
Whitfield is an English surname derived from a place name meaning 'white field', from Old English hwīt 'white' and feld 'pasture, open country'. It originated as a locational surname for someone who lived near or came from a place such as Whitfield in Kent, Northamptonshire, or Derbyshire. As a given name, it has been used sparingly since the 19th century, likely in honor of families or notable individuals bearing the surname.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Whit
Variants: Whitfeld
Sibling names for Whitfield
Names that share Whitfield's style, for a brother or sister.
