Winona
Girl name · #627 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Winona? In official American birth records, Winona has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 466 baby girls were named Winona, placing it at #627 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3989, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,863 girls born in 2025 was named Winona.
The 145-year story
Winona first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 466 babies and a rank of #627. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Winona per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Winona against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Winona in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Winona is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Winona is most common
Geography matters for names, and Winona is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Winona is most common in WI (1.1 per 1,000), UT (0.8 per 1,000), MN (0.8 per 1,000), OR (0.8 per 1,000), MI (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Winona is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Winona
Statistically, parents drawn to Winona tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Solana, Rosalina, Romina, Ailana, and Vienna.
SolanaRosalinaRominaAilanaViennaAmouraLiyanaWinnie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Winona | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 466 | #627 |
| 2024 | 384 | #734 |
| 2023 | 306 | #878 |
| 2022 | 273 | #975 |
| 2021 | 175 | #1293 |
| 2020 | 154 | #1418 |
| 2019 | 127 | #1655 |
| 2018 | 96 | #2026 |
| 2017 | 77 | #2357 |
| 2016 | 69 | #2560 |
| 2015 | 37 | #3989 |
| 2014 | 37 | #4003 |
| 2013 | 33 | #4336 |
| 2012 | 34 | #4296 |
| 2011 | 20 | #6335 |
| 2010 | 20 | #6382 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7679 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8109 |
| 2007 | 25 | #5526 |
| 2006 | 22 | #5906 |
| 2005 | 16 | #7138 |
| 2004 | 17 | #6768 |
| 2003 | 16 | #6885 |
| 2002 | 22 | #5254 |
| 2001 | 18 | #6067 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Winona?
In official American birth records, the name Winona first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Winona a popular girl name?
Winona ranked #627 among girls in 2025 with 466 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3989.
When was the name Winona most popular?
Winona peaked in 2025, when 466 American girls received the name (ranked #627 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Winona?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,863 newborn American girls was named Winona. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.