Whittaker
Meaning of Whittaker
Whittaker, originally an Old English locative surname formed from the elements hwita (“white”) and æcer (“field”), denotes a heritage grounded in the rural topography of medieval England and has since been adopted as a masculine given name within Anglo-American usage. As a personal name, it conveys an air of distinguished lineage and measured gravitas, aligning with the broader pattern of surnames repurposed to evoke historical depth and familial continuity. In the United States, Whittaker has maintained a modest yet stable presence in birth registrations—registering 25 occurrences and ranking 899th in 2024—reflecting its selective appeal among parents who prioritize names with scholarly resonance and clear phonetic structure. Pronounced WHIT-uh-kur (/ˈwɪtəkər/) in contemporary American English, it offers both linguistic clarity and professional suitability. Associations with figures such as the journalist and historian Whittaker Chambers further reinforce the name’s Anglo-American cultural currency and its connotations of intellectual rigor.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as WHIT-uh-kur (/ˈwɪtəkər/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Whittaker
| Whittaker Chambers - |
