<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITNEY HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTNY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249454</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nickelsen Eric J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17 WEST CEDAR STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PENSACOLA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32501</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67075.122</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6213.146</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Kirsten Nickelsen trust, John S. Carr, Trustee.  Mr. Nickelsen has authority to vote these shares</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.7444</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.5233</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.3233</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.8333</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.615</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Comm stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25.045</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comm stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25.045</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27790.99</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This share total Includes shares acquired through dividend  reinvestment in Mr. Nickelsen's personal  brokerage account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares acquired through dividend  reinves tment in the name of Eric Nickelsen Trustee, Trust Under will of Margaret M. Nickelsen, Deceased.  Mr. Nickelsen has full voting authority over this a ccount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Outstanding options to acquire shares of stock pursuant to the Company's Directors Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Phantom stock units are accrued on a 1-for-1 basis under the Company's Directors' Compensation Plan and are to be settled 100% of WHC common stock upon the requesting person's pre-determined payment after retirement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patricia K. Loupe, Asst. Corporate Secretary and attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgar.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18400}]
X0303
4
2009-06-30
0000106926
WHITNEY HOLDING CORP
WTNY
0001249454
Nickelsen Eric J
17 WEST CEDAR STREET
SUITE 3
PENSACOLA
FL
32501
1
0
0
0
Common stock no par value
2009-06-30
4
A
0
3276
9.16
A
67075.122
D
Common stock no par value
6213.146
D
Common stock no par value
3000
I
Kirsten Nickelsen trust, John S. Carr, Trustee.  Mr. Nickelsen has authority to vote these shares
Comm stock
20.7444
2002-01-01
2011-06-30
Comm stock
2250
2250
D
Comm stock
20.5233
2002-06-30
2012-06-29
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
21.3233
2003-06-30
2013-06-28
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
29.8333
2004-06-30
2014-06-30
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
32.615
2005-06-30
2015-06-29
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
35.37
2006-06-30
2016-06-29
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
30.10
2007-06-30
2017-06-29
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Comm stock
18.30
2008-06-30
2018-06-30
Comm stock
4500
4500
D
Phantom stock units
9.09
2009-07-01
4
A
0
25.045
9.09
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Comm stock
25.045
27790.99
D
This share total Includes shares acquired through dividend  reinvestment in Mr. Nickelsen's personal  brokerage account.
Includes shares acquired through dividend  reinves tment in the name of Eric Nickelsen Trustee, Trust Under will of Margaret M. Nickelsen, Deceased.  Mr. Nickelsen has full voting authority over this a ccount.
Outstanding options to acquire shares of stock pursuant to the Company's Directors Compensation Plan.
Phantom stock units are accrued on a 1-for-1 basis under the Company's Directors' Compensation Plan and are to be settled 100% of WHC common stock upon the requesting person's pre-determined payment after retirement.
Patricia K. Loupe, Asst. Corporate Secretary and attorney-in-fact
2009-07-02