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

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITNEY HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REED KEVIN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>228 ST. CHARLES AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ORLEANS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6241.585</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3057</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held jointly held with spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>941.999</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held for Mr. Reed in Company's 401(k) plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16.542</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held for spouse in dividend reinvestment plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3275.138</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held for spouse in Company's 401(k) plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.1066</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-06-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.7916</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.8666</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-12-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-06-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.87</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-06-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2250</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.665</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1030</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.665</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2970</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 5,500 shares of restricted stock granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Program.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Program pursuant to Rule 16b.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kevin P. Reed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

