Name profile

GirlPronounced English /wɪ.ˈnoʊ.nə/

Winona

A name meaning "firstborn daughter".

Quick answer

Winona is a girl name meaning "firstborn daughter".

Pronunciation: English /wɪ.ˈnoʊ.nə/.

GenderGirl
Meaningfirstborn daughter
PronunciationEnglish /wɪ.ˈnoʊ.nə/

Meaning and history

The name means "firstborn daughter" in Dakota or Lakota. According to folklore, this was the name of a daughter of a Dakota chief (possibly Wapasha III) who leapt from a cliff to her death rather than marry a man she hated. Numerous places in the United States have been named after her. The actress Winona Ryder (1971-) was named after the city in Minnesota where she was born.

Notes and context

Usage: english, sioux