How Many People Are Named Whitney?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Whitney

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 4,140 living people in the United States currently have the first name Whitney. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 7,031 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #391 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~4,140CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)7,031Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#391U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1950 (121 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~4,140
Historical Births (SSA)
7,031
All-Time Rank
#391
Historical Peak
1950

Key Insights for Whitney

Estimated Living Bearers
~4,140 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#391
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1950
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
100% Male · 0% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~518 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Whitney

Living Population Model
~4,140

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
7,031

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
4,781

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
47.8 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1950

Highest annual total: 121 registrations in 1950.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (+0%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Whitney has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Whitney (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1950 (~121 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201049490
201149490
201249490
201349490
201449490
201549490
201649490
201749490
201849490
201949490
202049490
202149490
202249490
202349490
202449490

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
97/100
1950s
98/100
1960s
75/100
1970s
43/100
1980s
20/100
1990s
9/100
2000s
42/100
2010s
41/100
2020s
21/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Whitney is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (100% male births).

Male: 100% (~7,031 births)Female: 0% (~0 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Whitney

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Whitney in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Whitney appeared 4,781 times, ranking #560 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
4,781 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#560
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Whitney Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~518 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~51812.5%
Texas (TX)~3819.2%
Florida (FL)~2826.8%
New York (NY)~2536.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~1664%
Illinois (IL)~1613.9%
Ohio (OH)~1493.6%
Georgia (GA)~1373.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 4,140 people named Whitney are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 47.8 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Whitney: 47.8 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Whitney

How many people in the U.S. are named Whitney?

Approximately 4,140 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Whitney. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 7,031 birth applications for Whitney between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Whitney?

Whitney ranks #391 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Whitney comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Whitney most popular in America?

The name Whitney reached its peak historical popularity in 1950, when 121 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Whitney?

Whitney has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Whitney?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Whitney is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (100% male births).

Where is the name Whitney most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Whitney resides in California, with approximately 518 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Whitney in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Whitney appeared 4,781 times in census returns, ranking #560 in official 2020 returns.

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