<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITNEY HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249445</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIPPMAN ALFRED S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1025 VICTOR II BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>INGLEWOOD MALL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORGAN CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70380</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37007</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>31.985</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom stock units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4.18</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.65</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>Common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4.18</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>486.97</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">As previously reported, Mr. Lippman also has outstanding options to acquire up to 12,000 shares of stock at exercise prices ranging from $20.333 to $33.9166 pursuant to the Company's Directors Compensation Plans.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In addition, Mr. Lippman has 56,419 shares of Whitney stock in the Lippman, Mahfouz &amp; Martin 401(k) Savings &amp; Retirement Plan f/b/o Alfred S. LIppman</footnote><footnote id="F3">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/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Patricia K. Loupe,  Asst. Corp. Secretary of Whitney Holding Corporation and attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-10-01
0000106926
WHITNEY HOLDING CORP
WTNY
0001249445
LIPPMAN ALFRED S
1025 VICTOR II BOULEVARD
INGLEWOOD MALL
MORGAN CITY
LA
70380
1
0
0
0
Common stock no par value
37007
D
Common stock
31.985
2003-06-30
2013-06-28
Common stock
3000
3000
D
Phantom stock units
0
2003-10-01
4
A
0
4.18
34.65
A
1988-08-08
1988-08-08
Common stock
4.18
486.97
D
As previously reported, Mr. Lippman also has outstanding options to acquire up to 12,000 shares of stock at exercise prices ranging from $20.333 to $33.9166 pursuant to the Company's Directors Compensation Plans.
In addition, Mr. Lippman has 56,419 shares of Whitney stock in the Lippman, Mahfouz & Martin 401(k) Savings & Retirement Plan f/b/o Alfred S. LIppman
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. Corp. Secretary of Whitney Holding Corporation and attorney-in-fact
2003-10-02