Rising since 2001, #2,884 for boys today.
Popularity of Whitten since 1997
Babies named Whitten per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 15 |
| 2000s | 61 |
| 2010s | 230 |
| 2020s | 210 |
Meaning & origin
Whitten is a rare modern given name with English surname origins. It is essentially a variant of the surname Whittington or Whitton, both rooted in Old English place names. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1997, making it a recent coinage compared to traditional names. It ranked 2,884th in 2025, with about 1 in 39,723 newborns receiving the name. Whitten has been steadily rising in popularity since 2001, reaching its peak in 2025. Its usage is concentrated in Tennessee and Texas, suggesting a regional appeal. As a surname-based name in the style of Parker or Bennett, Whitten fits a modern trend of using last names as first names for boys.
Whitten likely originated as a variant of the surname Whittington, derived from several places named Whittington in England, which mean 'the town of Hwita's people' (from the Old English personal name Hwita + -ing- 'belonging to' + tūn 'settlement'). It may also be a respelling of Whitten, a variant of the surname White or Whitton. As a given name, Whitten has rare modern usage, first recorded in the United States in 1997.
Where Whitten is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Whit
Variants: Whitton, Whittington
Sibling names for Whitten
Names that share Whitten's style, for a brother or sister.
