MallowbyNames

Whitni

WIT-nee · From the white island

Peak popularity
1986
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Holding steady

Holding steady.

Popularity of Whitni since 1977

Babies named Whitni per year in U.S. Social Security records.

122537198020002020Most births 1986Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1970s5
1980s165
1990s145
2000s18
2010s0
2020s0

Meaning & origin

Whitni is a modern respelling of Whitney, a name that originated as an English place name meaning 'white island.' The base name Whitney saw a surge in popularity for girls in the 1980s, reaching its peak rank of 10 in 1986, when it was one of the most popular names for baby girls. Whitni itself first appeared in records in 1977 and reached its own peak in the same year, 1986, though it has never approached the top 1000. The name's trajectory has been stable but very rare, as it has not appeared in significant numbers in any recent year. Top states for Whitney have included Utah and Idaho, reflecting the name's strong association with certain regions. This variant remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a familiar sound with a unique spelling.

Whitni is a modern respelling of Whitney, which is derived from an Old English place name meaning 'white island' (from 'hwit' meaning white and 'eg' meaning island). Originally a surname from various locations in England, Whitney became a given name in the late 19th century and saw a surge in popularity for girls in the 1980s, partly due to pop culture figures.

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Whit, Nikki

Variants: Whitney, Witney, Whittney

Sibling names for Whitni

Names that share Whitni's style, for a brother or sister.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

W is for Whitni, our favorite little girl.

W is for Whitni…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Whitni's letter becomes Whitni's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Whitni's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Whitni mean?
Whitni is a modern respelling of Whitney, which means 'white island' from the Old English elements 'hwit' (white) and 'eg' (island).
How popular is the name Whitni?
Whitni is a very rare name. It first appeared in records in 1977, peaked in 1986, and has remained uncommon since, with no recent rank in the top 1000.
Is Whitni a boy or girl name?
Whitni is used almost exclusively for girls, though its root name Whitney has historically been used for both genders.