Which actress was Whitney Houston named after?

“Which actress was Whitney Houston named after? Whitney Blake.” According to Houston’s mother, gospel and soul singer Cissy Houston, her daughter was named after actress Whitney Blake.

Whitney Blake was an American actress best known for television work, particularly her role as Dorothy Baxter on the 1960s sitcom Hazel. She later became a writer and was the mother of actor Scott Baio. Blake’s first name was distinctive enough to inspire Cissy Houston when naming her daughter.

Whitney Houston was born Whitney Elizabeth Houston on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Her family already had deep ties to music: Cissy was a celebrated singer, Dionne Warwick was her cousin, and Aretha Franklin was regarded as an honorary aunt. Houston grew up singing gospel before becoming an international pop and R&B star.

The question is about the origin of Houston’s first name, not her nickname. Her father reportedly called her “Nippy,” a childhood nickname that later became associated with her professional identity through Nippy Inc., her management and production company. The name Whitney, however, is linked to Blake.