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I don't think it should be too tied to her, anyway. It was an established name before she came on the scene and I hate to think of a celebrity making an established name unusable. It's not like it was a really unusual name that few people had ever heard of before the celebrity came along, such as Sigourney ala Sigourney Weaver. All it takes is for people to begin using it in appreciable numbers for it to stop being tied strongly to Ryder, and that will never happen while people shy away from it because of Ryder. So don't shy away from it! Although I personally don't like it.

I've never knowingly seen Winona Ryder, though I am aware that she exists - mostly because I've always enjoyed the name Winona. I've never met anyone with the name, and never seen a reference where I live to anyone with it. So my associations are with the old lady in Hiawatha, and with a name that could shorten to Win(nie) without being Winifred.

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As for whether it's usable because of one actress ... why not? Look at all the Cameron people, and the rather older Marilyn people. Nobody even twitches.

I kinda like Winona, it's different but it's a legit name. I don't think of Winona Ryder at all.

I actually think more of a certain singer with this name than the actress. But neither has done much work in recent years for anyone to really associate the name with celebs.

I adore Winona, and although I also adore Winona Ryder, I don't consider the name's association with the actress to be problematically close. What concerns me personally is the appropriative nature of bestowing a Native American name on a child who is not Native American. :(

I think of Winona Ryder. However, I still like the name, and I don't think that it's a bad association. In my experience people tend to become accustomed to names pretty easily even if they're uncommon or tied to someone famous.

I think it's usable. Winona Ryder isn't as big as she used to be, so the kid's peers probably won't even know who she is. It's fine.

It's usable IMO. Of course people say "I just think of Ryder" - it's because they have not been exposed to the name anywhere else. If they actually met another Winona in person, Ryder would cease to seem important at all, as they've never even met her!

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Other fairly "unique" celeb names that I wouldn't think were inseparable from the celebrity, if people actually used them: Charlize, Keanu, Denzel, Marlon ... they're all on my favorites, and not because I like the actors. I don't know why Winona didn't become a thing the way Ryder has - it mystifies me because Winona is a beautiful name and Ryder is just awful IMO. I would have thought that the rental truck company would be enough to kill any appeal Ryder had. If yellow truck rentals can't ruin a name, surely a middle aged actress with a slightly degenerate image can't (haha, I just noticed she is about six weeks younger than I am. I thought she was older).

This message was edited 5/29/2015, 10:15 AM

I think it's usable and beautiful. The Winona Ryder association is strong, but not too strong to deem the name unusable. It's my grandmother's middle name.

Psht, Winona Ryder shouldn't get to hog such a great name all to herself. I don't have an issue separating Ryder and her given name, but I also don't have an issue with Winona Ryder, so either way I think it's just fine, very likeable. I might add it to my long list, actually. Hm.