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Winona

♀ Girl

Pronounced wi-NOH-nah /wɪˈnoʊ.nə/High

Meaning: From the Dakota Sioux word winúŋna, meaning 'firstborn daughter.' In Dakota tradition, children were named by birth order, and Winona was the designation for the eldest girl.High

In 30 seconds: Winona is a Dakota Sioux name meaning 'firstborn daughter,' rooted in Native American tradition. With its melodic sound and cultural depth, it has been embraced well beyond its Indigenous origins.
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Origin HighDakota Sioux
MeaningFrom the Dakota Sioux word winúŋna, meaning 'firstborn daughter.' In Dakota tradition, children were named by birth order, and Winona was the designation for the eldest girl.
U.S. rank (2025)#627 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births466 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 12,947

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Winona originates from the Dakota language of the Great Plains, where winúŋna designated the firstborn daughter in a family. The practice of naming children by birth order was common among the Sioux nations. The name entered wider American use through romantic depictions of Native American culture in the 19th century.

The city of Winona, Minnesota, founded in 1851, enshrined the name geographically. Actress Winona Ryder gave the name renewed celebrity in the late 1980s and 1990s. The name is now appreciated for its musical quality and its connection to Indigenous American heritage.

Did you know? The city of Winona, Minnesota, takes its name from We-No-Nah, a legendary Dakota woman celebrated in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem The Song of Hiawatha, helping spread the name across the English-speaking world.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Winona — etymology and cultural backgroundU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

WenonaWenonahWynona

Nicknames

WinnieNonaWinn

Famous Bearers

  • ★Winona Ryder (1971–present)
    American actress known for films such as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands and the series Stranger Things.
  • ★Winona LaDuke (1959–present)
    Native American environmental activist, economist, and author who twice ran for U.S. Vice President.

If you like Winona…

Cheyenne— fellow Native American place and people name used for girls
Dakota— another Dakota Sioux-rooted name with geographic ties
Shiloh— shares the free-spirited, place-name quality embraced in modern usage
Saoirse— similarly melodic and culturally rooted name with literary associations

Frequently Asked

What does the name Winona mean?

Winona comes from the Dakota Sioux language and means 'firstborn daughter.' It was traditionally used to designate the eldest girl in a Dakota family.

How do you pronounce Winona?

Winona is pronounced wi-NOH-nah /wɪˈnoʊ.nə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Winona a boy or girl name?

Winona is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Winona?

Winona peaked in mid-20th century America and experienced a revival in the 1990s, largely due to actress Winona Ryder. It remains a vintage-revival favorite.