A famous bearer is Winona Cargile Alexander, a educator and social worker who founded Delta Sigma Theta, a historically African-American sorority in 1913.
Very pretty, one of my favorites. I love the nickname ‘Winnie’ and I find Winona much easier to use than Winnifred (although I like them both).I think of Winona Ryder, and Winnie Cooper.
The daughter of Chief Wapasha III named Winona is a legendary figure, not a historical one. As was mentioned in another comment, Winona was the Lakota word for "first born daughter", but it was not normally a NAME in that culture. European-Americans thought it was a name because in Lakota culture first-born daughters were commonly addressed as "Winona" by their relatives, just as in modern American culture parents will address their children as "Son" or "Daughter" when they are speaking to them.
Named my second daughter Winona, (after her great-great-Aunt, whose father was a full Sioux native.) She is my eldest daughter with my second husband, and is his eldest daughter. She goes by Nonie, which can be confusing, because my granddaughter calls me Nonni. I had always planned to call a daughter that name.
I like this name for two reasons: First, my daughter's name is Dakota, so I have a soft spot for names with Native American origins. Second, Stranger Things just made Winona Ryder relevant again!
― Anonymous User 8/6/2019
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Winona Ryder was named after a small town Winona, Minnesota.
The main character in my latest novel is named Winona, but she's called Winnie. I really love this name and hope to use it for my oldest daughter if I have any children.
― Anonymous User 4/21/2018
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I like the name's meaning but I don't really like how it sounds. It's a nice name anyways.
― Anonymous User 4/4/2018
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It would be a very cool name to have. It's not common, and it's got a nice history.
― Anonymous User 1/14/2018
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Winona is the toy whale from the British animated series Rubbadubbers. She communicates by squeaking.
This is my name! Personally I think it looks pretty and I like it very much, although I'm Korean, not English or Native American so I'm not sure where it came from.
In ojibway stories Winona is the only daughter of Nookomis, grandmother moon. It is said that Winona was captured by the west wind and held in his lodge. Winona was abused and beaten by the west wind and this made her sad. The west wind was so sick of looking at her sad face that he threw her out of his lodge. She walked for countless days until she finally got home but by then she is sick and very pregnant with the west wind's babies. She gave birth to a boy, Wenabozho, she is happy that he is strong and beautiful. She puts Wenabozho to her breast and let him feed, this it why Winona means breastfeeder, but Winona didn't know that there was another baby inside of her, Jiibayaabooz, that was so impatient that he pushed his way out of her stomach killing her. Nookomis cried over her daughter's body for days before she realized that the two babies had not eaten, she found in place of babies rabbits eating the grass, the two babies were very powerful and could change themselves into anything, and so they used their gift of trickery.
The name actually means "woman of fire" from Lakota Sioux, win "woman, female, girl" + ona "fire." This name is or was fairly common among the Sioux, based on census records.Source: Buechel, Eugene and Paul Manhart (2002) Lakota Dictionary: Lakota-English / English-Lakota: New Comprehensive Edition. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
I personally think this name is rather fitting and very beautiful. It is definitely different, which I like. Too many children with the same names these days.
I love being called Winona. My mother gave me a fantastic name and I'm very proud of it. My nieces and nephews call me Nona, a nickname I cherish, but the idea of Winnie or Wendy as a nickname is awful- I hate being called Winnie.
I find this name so gutsy and even though it's Native American, I always felt this was the perfect western name. To me, this name is more exotic than Scarlett. I have to admit the meaning is not that cool but some people really don't care about meaning. When I hear the name Winona, I imagine a beautiful western girl and a tragic love story. It's just so beautiful and I love it so much. It's so uncommon and I love the nickname Winnie. My favorite combo for this name is Winona Rose- it just sounds so cool I also like Winona Caroline, Winona Charlotte, Winona Scarlett, Winona Vivian, Winona Melanie and finally Winona Catherine.
The city of Winona, Minnesota was named after the daughter of Chief Wapasha III. It's kind of a legend around the town that she jumped off of one of the surrounding bluffs after she fell in love with a white man and her father disapproved.
My grandmother was originally named Charlotte, when she was a toddler her mother got annoyed that everyone called her Lottie so she changed her name to Winona. My grandmother was named Winona Wanda and she absolutely loathed it. She was known to everyone as Noni. I'm sure she would try to stop me but when I have a daughter I am going to name her Winona. It makes me happy to have the story to pass on. I think the name is so charming. I'm going to ditch the Wanda part though. : ) Winona Rose has a lovely ring to it.
This name reminds me of Winona Ryder. But, luckily, I love the beautiful Ms. Ryder. I prefer the "Wenona" spelling, however. As far as nicknames go, I love Winna and Wendy.
There is a Lakota legend, oft told but not often recorded, that contributes to the origins of this name. I don't know if it is also part of the Dakota and Nakota branches of the tribe since my family is from the Oglala Lakota. Winona was the name of the first woman, sort of like Eve only minus Adam and the snake. For this reason it is used as the name for a first born daughter.
My grandmother's name is Wynona Rose. I think it's an absolutely beautiful name, but when she was growing up, it was hard for other kids to pronounce, so everyone called her Rose.I actually like the name a lot, though I prefer the original Winona. In fact, I'm using it for a character in a story of mine, and everyone calls her Winna.
I do not like this name at all. I think that it's quite ugly. But it is nice that it originated with the Native Americans. Very few names in common use do.
I love the name Winona, and I love Winona Rider. She does spell it Winona. However, it originally was spelt with a y and her last name was Horowitz, she is either full or semi Jewish. I think Winona is a nice name, lots of nicknames. Win, Winnie, and Nona. Although Nona is Italian for grandma. So that would be a bit odd for a little girl. But I think it's nice. I would like to name my first kid this, if it were a girl since it means firstborn. Plus since the nickname is Winnie, it makes me think of Winnie the Pooh and Winnie from the Wonder Years.
This name is Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota. It can mean a beautiful river, first born daughter, and princess in Lakota. The Dakota rarely use this name for a meaning other than first born daughter.
― Anonymous User 1/17/2006
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Winona is such an adorable name. My future daughters will be Anastasia and Winona.