Wenonah

Meaning & origin

Wenonah is a Native American name from the Dakota language, meaning 'firstborn daughter.' It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1903, and its peak year of usage was 1916, when it saw its highest recorded number of births. Since then, the name has maintained a stable but extremely low frequency, with very few new occurrences each year through 2025. The name's popularity in the early 20th century likely reflects cultural interest sparked by Longfellow's Hiawatha, but it never entered widespread use. Its trajectory remains flat, not experiencing any revival in recent decades. No top states are recorded for the name, as its usage has always been sparse. Wenonah remains a distinctive choice with genuine Native American roots.

Wenonah is derived from the Dakota word 'winúŋna,' meaning 'firstborn daughter.' In Native American lore, particularly among the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples, it appears in oral traditions as the mother of Hiawatha. The name entered broader American awareness through Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem 'The Song of Hiawatha,' where Wenonah is a central figure. Despite its mythological and literary associations, the name has seen limited but enduring use in the United States, especially in the early 20th century.