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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITNEY HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186072</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARKS WILLIAM L</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; Chief Exec. Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7537</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>191336</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>63000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-01-26</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-07-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>19705</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19705</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-01-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-07-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>22000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>28.2916</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-12-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3534</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3534</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>28.2916</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-12-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>56466</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>56466</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.6666</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2727</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2727</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.6666</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27273</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27273</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3688</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3688</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26311</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26311</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4033</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4033</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>33466</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>33466</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>33912</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>33912</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3588</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3588</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.87</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-06-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>37048</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37048</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.87</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-06-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2952</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2952</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>47030</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47030</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</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>Com stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2970</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2970</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This total does not include 7,582 shares of stock held for Mr. Marks in the Company's 401(k) plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Restricted stock granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan pursuant to Rule 16b.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Program and Long Term Incentive Plan pursuant to Rule 16b.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Patricia K. Loupe, Asst. Corp. Secretary and attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

