Early settlers called the feature Beaver Creek; however as early as 1917 the name Whitecourt Creek started appearing on maps. It was so named for its proximity to the community of Whitecourt. It never caught on, and during field research in 1982 it was found the local people still referred to it as Beaver Creek. The name was officially changed. The name is descriptive of the beaver dams found on the creek.

Flows north-west into the McLeod River at the town of Whitecourt.