Winona
How to say it: wih-NOH-nuh · /wɪˈnoʊnə/
Firstborn daughter; from the Dakota word 'winúŋna', meaning eldest daughter.
Winona was the 605th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 466 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are up 11-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #244 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #605 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 466 |
| Share of births | 1 in 7,114 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | ×11 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #244 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After fading nearly out of sight in the 2000s, Winona returned toward its 1920s high. Now close to that peak, it looks ready to keep rising.
What goes with it
Rippling and soft with a gentle air, Winona feels storied and warm. Winnie works as a cozy short form, and Luella pairs beautifully.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Winona is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Winona
- Winona Ryder (born 1971)American actress
- Winona LaDuke (born 1959)Author and activist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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