Girl name · Sioux
Winona
“first-born daughter”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Winona.
Explore Winona further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Winona — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Wíŋuŋna is Dakota for a first-born daughter. It is a birth-order term rather than a personal name in the European sense — Dakota and Lakota traditionally addressed children by their position in the family, with Winona, Hapan and Hapistinna for successive daughters, and a personal name arriving later and often changing over a lifetime.
English took it as a given name in the nineteenth century and it has been in continuous US use since, which is longer than most names on this site.
Three syllables, said wih-NO-nah. On our vibe map it is Vintage Elegant, with Cultural Fusion held behind a real aesthetic primary.
More Sioux names
Winona sits in our Sioux set — these share its roots.
All Sioux names →Winona — common questions
Is Winona a boy or girl name?
Winona is traditionally a girl name of Sioux origin.
What does the name Winona mean?
Winona means “first-born daughter” of Sioux origin. Wíŋuŋna is Dakota for a first-born daughter. It is a birth-order term rather than a personal name in the European sense — Dakota and Lakota traditionally addressed children by their position in the family, with Winona, Hapan and Hapistinna for successive daughters, and a personal name arriving later and often changing over a lifetime.
Where does the name Winona come from?
Winona is Sioux in origin. English took it as a given name in the nineteenth century and it has been in continuous US use since, which is longer than most names on this site.
What are common nicknames for Winona?
Nona and Win — the short-forms parents most often use for Winona.
How popular is Winona?
Winona did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Winona you might want for the nursery.