Whitman

At a Glance

Meaning

Descriptive surname meaning 'white man' — a fair-haired or fair-skinned man

Origin

Old English (surname)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

WIT-muhnListen

Whitman is an Old English surname that started as a plain description: 'white man,' meaning a fair-haired or fair-skinned man. You'll sometimes see it tied to the poet Walt Whitman, but he's simply a famous person who carried the name, not where its meaning comes from.

Meaning & Origin of Whitman

Meaning: Descriptive surname meaning 'white man' — a fair-haired or fair-skinned man.

Origin: Old English (surname).

A common claim: Said to mean 'white man,' and sometimes described as if it comes from or references poet Walt Whitman. Actually: The 'white man' meaning is a plain surname derivation; Walt Whitman is just a famous bearer of the name, not the source of its meaning.

How to Pronounce Whitman

Popularity of Whitman

Whitman ranked #4174 in 2024, with 26 babies given the name that year. Its peak in the Social Security data was #1674 back in 1909, when 5 babies were named Whitman.

Names Like Whitman

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Roosevelt
• Ena
• Adelle
• Gaston
• Lovella
• Aline

FAQ

What does the name Whitman mean?

Descriptive surname meaning ‘white man’ — a fair-haired or fair-skinned man.

How do you pronounce Whitman?

Whitman is pronounced WIT-muhn (IPA: /ˈwɪtmən/).

Is Whitman a popular name right now?

Whitman peaked at #1674 in 1909 and is ranked #4174 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1909–2024.)

Make Whitman Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Whitman, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.