Whittaker is an English surname and given name of Old English origin, derived from the personal name Whittacre. It was first recorded as a forename in England during the early medieval period. Over time, Whittaker has evolved to become more commonly used as a surname, but it remains a unique and distinctive choice for a given name.
The name Whittaker has seen fluctuating popularity over the past two decades, with a notable increase since 2016. Between 2002 and 2015, the number of annual births ranged from 5 to 14, averaging around 9 births per year. However, from 2016 onwards, there's been a significant rise in popularity, with an average of nearly 23 births per year, reaching a peak of 27 births in 2020 and 26 births in 2023. Overall, since 2002, there have been a total of 283 births named Whittaker.