Winona Girl

Popularity: #525 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: wi-NO-nah /wɪˈnoʊ.nə/

Origin: Native American; English

Meaning: Native American: firstborn; English: joyful

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Winona has its roots in the Dakota Sioux language, where it means "firstborn daughter." The etymological journey of Winona begins with the Native American heritage of the Sioux tribes, particularly the Dakota, who have historically inhabited the regions of the northern United States. The name was introduced into English through the increasing interest in Native American culture and languages during the 19th century, particularly as European settlers and explorers interacted more with Indigenous peoples.

This cultural exchange facilitated the incorporation of Native American names into the English lexicon, with Winona being one of the more prominent examples. Historically, the name Winona gained recognition through various cultural representations, including literature and folklore.

One notable figure is Winona LaDuke, a prominent Native American activist and author, who has brought attention to Indigenous issues in contemporary society. Additionally, the name appears in various works of fiction and poetry, often symbolizing themes of strength, resilience, and connection to heritage.

The name's association with the concept of being the "firstborn" imbues it with a sense of significance and honor within familial and cultural contexts. Winona's cultural resonance is further enhanced by its ties to the broader narrative of Native American history and identity.

The name has been embraced in various forms of art and storytelling, reflecting the enduring legacy of Indigenous cultures in the face of historical challenges. While diminutive forms or variations of Winona exist, such as Winnie, the name itself stands as a testament to the rich linguistic and cultural tapestry of Native American heritage, embodying both personal and communal significance.

Famous people named Winona

In this section, you will find notable people named Winona. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Winona who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Winona who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Winona Ryder is an actress best known for Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Stranger Things.

Winona LaDuke is an environmentalist and activist best known for her work with Native American rights and sustainable development.

Fictional characters named Winona

The following list of fictional characters named Winona is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Winona Ryder is a fictional character from the film and television series Stranger Things. She is the determined mother of the main character, Will Byers, and plays a crucial role in the search for her son.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Winona, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

WillowWillaWendyWhitneyWrenWesley

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Winona. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

NinaLunaMinaTinaRinaZinaSelinaAlina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Winona was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Winona has ranked as high as #1234 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Winona has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Winona is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Winona was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Winona.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 466 466
2024 384 384
2023 306 306
2022 273 273
2021 175 175
2020 154 154
2019 127 127
2018 96 96
2017 77 77
2016 69 69
2015 37 37
2014 37 37
2013 33 33
2012 34 34
2011 20 20
2010 20 20
2009 16 16
2008 15 15
2007 25 25
2006 22 22
2005 16 16
2004 17 17
2003 16 16
2002 22 22
2001 18 18
2000 28 28
1999 27 27
1998 27 27
1997 20 20
1996 29 29
1995 29 29
1994 39 39
1993 29 29
1992 56 56
1991 50 50
1990 34 34
1989 25 25
1988 16 16
1987 30 30
1986 13 13
1985 23 23
1984 15 15
1983 27 27
1982 21 21
1981 38 38
1980 37 37
1979 34 34
1978 34 34
1977 38 38
1976 53 53
1975 46 46
1974 48 48
1973 57 57
1972 60 60
1971 63 63
1970 48 48
1969 50 50
1968 54 54
1967 60 60
1966 73 73
1965 73 73
1964 78 78
1963 79 79
1962 91 91
1961 78 78
1960 90 90
1959 80 80
1958 105 105
1957 115 115
1956 121 121
1955 105 105
1954 100 100
1953 95 95
1952 113 113
1951 104 104
1950 119 119
1949 100 100
1948 94 94
1947 119 119
1946 90 90
1945 99 99
1944 92 92
1943 108 108
1942 109 109
1941 136 136
1940 129 129
1939 127 127
1938 170 170
1937 172 172
1936 167 167
1935 173 173
1934 199 199
1933 209 209
1932 198 198
1931 252 252
1930 221 221
1929 189 189
1928 223 223
1927 230 230
1926 224 224
1925 270 270
1924 289 289
1923 257 257
1922 261 261
1921 265 265
1920 222 222
1919 188 188
1918 223 223
1917 200 200
1916 219 219
1915 192 192
1914 139 139
1913 120 120
1912 108 108
1911 63 63
1910 65 65
1909 58 58
1908 51 51
1907 34 34
1906 49 49
1905 35 35
1904 32 32
1903 42 42
1902 29 29
1901 28 28
1900 18 18
1899 20 20
1898 30 30
1897 22 22
1896 25 25
1895 20 20
1894 22 22
1893 20 20
1892 20 20
1891 13 13
1890 14 14
1889 14 14
1888 16 16
1887 14 14
1886 9 9
1885 14 14
1884 6 6
1883 9 9
1882 9 9
1881 11 11
1880 6 6

Top States for Winona (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 30
9%
TX 22
6%
OH 19
6%
FL 19
6%
MN 17
5%
IL 16
5%
MI 15
4%
NY 14
4%
PA 13
4%
IN 13
4%
CO 12
3%
MA 12
3%
AZ 11
3%
NC 11
3%
OR 10
3%
WI 10
3%
GA 9
3%
WA 9
3%
KS 7
2%
TN 7
2%
KY 7
2%
CT 7
2%
NV 7
2%
UT 7
2%
VA 7
2%
ME 6
2%
ID 6
2%
MD 6
2%
MO 5
1%
SC 5
1%
NJ 5
1%