What was Whitney Houston's full birth name?

Whitney Houston’s full birth name was Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

She was born on August 9, 1963, at Presbyterian Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. Her parents were gospel and soul singer Emily “Cissy” Drinkard Houston and John Russell Houston Jr., who worked in Newark city administration. According to her mother, the first name Whitney honored actress Whitney Blake.

Houston was often called “Nippy” by her father, but that nickname was not part of her legal name. She grew up in a prominent musical family: Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick were cousins, while opera star Leontyne Price was also a relative. Her church and family background helped shape the gospel-influenced vocal style that later became central to her pop career.