Winona: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “firstborn daughter”
- Origin
- Native American
- Say it
- wih-NOH-nah · 3 syllables
- Used for
- Girls
From Dakota (Sioux) Winúŋna, traditionally meaning 'first-born daughter'. The name entered broader American use through literature and place names.
How popular is Winona?
Babies named Winona in 2024381
2024 rank#737 girls
Peak year1924
Total US babies since 188012,481
Winona is rising: use over the last five years is 9.6× what it was a decade earlier.
Names like Winona
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
- Cheyennepeople of a different speech · Native American
- Tallulahleaping water · Native American
- Aiyanaetymology uncertain · Native American
- Xitlalistar · Native American
- Shaniaon my way · Native American
- Cheyannepeople of a different speech · Native American
- Shyannepeople of a different speech · Native American
Winona questions
What does the name Winona mean?
Winona means "firstborn daughter". It comes from Native American. From Dakota (Sioux) Winúŋna, traditionally meaning 'first-born daughter'. The name entered broader American use through literature and place names.
Is Winona a boy or girl name?
Winona is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Winona?
381 US babies were named Winona in 2024. Its peak year was 1924.
How do you pronounce Winona?
Winona is usually pronounced wih-NOH-nah.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.