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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITNEY HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAIRD ROBERT C JR</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 Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock no par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>800</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47011</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>145.47</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></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>4347.99</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares of stock in the Company's 401(k) Plan.  This is the amount held as of 9/30/2003</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive opt</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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4999</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4999</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual opt</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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3534</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3534</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7716</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7716</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual opt</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.666</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2727</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2727</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual opt</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.666</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-12-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1998-06-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8523</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8523</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3688</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3688</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7561</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7561</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4033</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4033</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7216</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7216</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3588</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3588</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7662</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7662</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2952</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2952</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11048</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11048</value></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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2970</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2970</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Nonqual 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>Comm stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11030</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11030</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This figure includes 14,775 shares of restricted stock granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Program and Long Term Incentive Plan pursuant to Rule 16b.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares acquired by Mr. Baird in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Program pursuant to Rule 16b.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Patricia K. Loupe, attorney-in-fact and Asst. Corporate Secretary for Whitney Holding Corporation</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

