There Was Never an Official Name
In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially named The White House. Before that, the building had been frequently called various names including the “Executive Mansion,” the “President’s Mansion,” or the “President’s House.” The name was gotten from its color. The White House was painted white in a bid to cover the marks left after the hose was burned by British soldiers in the 1812 war.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919), who succeeded William McKinley after his assassination. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Every U.S. State had an executive house for its governor. This was why President Roosevelt decided to name it The White House to distinguish it as the official residence of the U.S. President.