Winona sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Ramona, Fiona, and Montana are the closest matches by sound. Most share Winona's Native American cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"firstborn daughter"
"moon goddess"
"God is gracious"
"royal one, of royal blood"
"from the oak wood"
"descendant of a ruler"
"pure, innocent"
"birdlike, of the birds"
"divine, moon goddess"
"heavenly, from the sky"
"noble kind (from Alice)"
"island of goats"
"new, fresh, pure"
"gold"
"scholar, learned one"
"dark, rich (possibly referring to the dark Adriatic waters)"
"pure, clear"
"meadow clearing, heath clearing"
"from the green valley"
"glory, fame"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Winona — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Dakota Sioux origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Winona.
Rhythm: Winona is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.