Winona comes from the Dakota Sioux Wenonah — traditionally given to a firstborn daughter. In Dakota tradition, the name is one of a set assigned by birth order. The city of Winona, Minnesota is named for a Dakota legend.
Winona was popularised by the actress Winona Ryder (born 1971), whose family named her after the city. Today Winona is rising as a girls' name in the U.S.
Winona reduces to two — the number of firstborn grace.