Quick answer
Whitney is a boy/girl name meaning "white island".
Meaning and history
This name comes from the English surname Whitney, originally derived from a place name probably meaning "white island", from Old English hwit and ieg. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012).
Notes and context
Usage: english