Magnolia Name Meaning

The name “magnolia” carries a lot of meaning and symbolism. The magnolia tree is known for its beauty and elegance, and it’s often associated with femininity and grace. It’s also a symbol of perseverance and strength, as the tree is able to withstand harsh weather conditions and bloom year after year.

Furthermore, Magnolias are also believed to symbolize nobility and dignity, as well as a love for nature.

Origins of the Name Magnolia

The magnolia tree is a beautiful and ancient species that has been around for over 100 million years. It’s no surprise, then, that the name “magnolia” has been used for centuries to name girls. But where did this name come from, and how has its popularity evolved over time?

The name “magnolia” is derived from the Latin word “magnolius,” which means “of great excellence.” This name was given to the tree by French botanist Pierre Magnol in the 17th century.

The name “magnolia” first appeared in the United States in the late 18th century, but it wasn’t commonly used as a girl’s name until the 19th century. At that time, it was a popular name among the wealthy and educated.

Popularity of the Name Magnolia

The name “magnolia” has had its ups and downs in terms of popularity, but it has never completely fallen out of style. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a popular name among the elite. However, it fell out of favor in the mid-20th century and remained relatively uncommon until the 21st century.

In recent years, the name “magnolia” has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to the popularity of the hit TV show “Fixer Upper,” in which Chip and Joanna Gaines frequently used the name as a middle name for their children.

Final Thoughts on the Name Magnolia

The Magnolia is also the state flower of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

The name “magnolia” is a beautiful and elegant name with a rich history and meaning. It’s a name that has stood the test of time and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. Whether you’re looking for a name that symbolizes beauty, grace, and strength, or you’re simply a fan of the magnolia tree, “magnolia” is a name that is sure to make a lasting impression.

Infographic of Magnolia name meaning, which is An English name, Magnolia means magnolia flower.
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Magnolia Name Popularity

How popular is the name Magnolia? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 382 67 0.019%
1911 438 49 0.0132%
1912 411 87 0.0173%
1913 484 69 0.0122%
1914 454 103 0.0148%
1915 524 104 0.0114%
1916 531 113 0.0117%
1917 592 91 0.0091%
1918 510 138 0.0129%
1919 554 114 0.0109%
1920 564 118 0.0106%
1921 537 132 0.0115%
1922 522 136 0.0122%
1923 601 105 0.0094%
1924 621 102 0.0088%
1925 584 110 0.0097%
1926 723 62 0.0056%
1927 614 95 0.0086%
1928 639 80 0.0075%
1929 771 45 0.0043%
1930 658 71 0.0068%
1931 723 48 0.0049%
1932 672 62 0.0063%
1933 648 59 0.0063%
1934 901 25 0.0026%
1935 677 55 0.0057%
1936 754 41 0.0043%
1937 888 26 0.0026%
1938 766 43 0.0042%
1939 890 26 0.0026%
1940 728 51 0.0048%
1941 890 32 0.0028%
1942 954 31 0.0025%
1943 1,028 25 0.0019%
1944 1,064 22 0.0018%
1945 921 32 0.0026%
1946 1,029 30 0.002%
1947 1,265 19 0.0011%
1948 1,151 26 0.0016%
1949 1,354 14 0.0009%
1950 1,181 26 0.0016%
1951 1,310 18 0.0011%
1952 1,751 6 0.0003%
1953 1,256 23 0.0013%
1954 1,575 11 0.0006%
1955 2,053 5 0.0003%
1956 1,824 7 0.0004%
1957 1,837 7 0.0004%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 2,246 5 0.0003%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 2,306 5 0.0003%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 2,039 10 0.0008%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 2,362 8 0.0006%
1978 2,208 10 0.0007%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 3,102 5 0.0003%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 3,038 5 0.0003%
1987 — 0 0%
1988 — 0 0%
1989 — 0 0%
1990 3,994 5 0.0003%
1991 3,019 9 0.0006%
1992 — 0 0%
1993 2,522 14 0.0009%
1994 3,778 5 0.0003%
1995 2,905 9 0.0006%
1996 3,050 7 0.0005%
1997 2,947 8 0.0005%
1998 2,877 10 0.0007%
1999 3,246 6 0.0004%
2000 2,326 22 0.0014%
2001 2,110 30 0.002%
2002 2,523 18 0.0012%
2003 2,399 22 0.0014%
2004 2,623 17 0.0011%
2005 2,729 15 0.001%
2006 1,973 43 0.0027%
2007 1,650 70 0.0044%
2008 1,503 89 0.0058%
2009 1,546 80 0.0054%
2010 1,341 106 0.0074%
2011 1,093 159 0.0112%
2012 1,109 160 0.0112%
2013 935 207 0.0145%
2014 786 289 0.0198%
2015 603 416 0.0286%
2016 491 577 0.04%
2017 375 773 0.0554%
2018 309 997 0.0726%
2019 231 1,289 0.0952%
2020 176 1,553 0.122%
2021 139 1,830 0.1497%
2022 152 1,847 0.14%
2023 144 1,942 0.15%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Magnolia

If you like Magnolia, you’ll love these other names like Magnolia.

What names are variants of Magnolia?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Magnolia.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Maggie

Pearl

English

Maggy

Pearl

Greek

Nola

“A little bell,” in allusion to the commune of Nola, in Campania, Italy, where bells of excellent quality were first made.

Irish

What names sound like Magnolia?

If you like how Magnolia sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Magnolia.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Magnhilde

Strong in battle

German

Magnilda

Strong in battle

German

Manuela

God is with us

Spanish

Lists With Magnolia

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Magnolia.

Siblings of Magnolia

Mamas with kids named Magnolia also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Stratton
Dahlia

Dahlia flower

Scandinavian

10 Comments

  1. We chose Magnolia because the Magnolia flower symbolizes purity and innocence. Both my husband and I were born to single mothers and we chose to do things differently in our family by waiting until we were married and by both being present in our daughter’s life.

    Reply

  2. We always have a nature element somewhere in our kids’ names…her middle name is Radegund, after a queen who gave up wealth and riches to serve the poor. But only so many nature names can really stand up to a powerful germanic name like Radegund. In the end, Magnolia was the only option…and it derives ultimately from Magnus, a very strong name. We love that Magnolia can be shortened various ways if she wants it to be, and is also very pronounceable in the full version. And that it’s a mighty tree that shelters other life as well as being flowering and lovely. The only thing not to like is that it does make southern folks think of Magnolia Marketplace, but oh well. There’s always an association for something! She’ll make it her own in time.

    Reply

  3. We wanted to stick with an M name ( our first daughter’s name is Madison) and instantly fell in love with the name Magnolia. We have a Maddie and a Maggie for short. Magnolia’s birthday month is April, one of the most rare so we felt that her name would suit her well in addition to flowers being associated with spring time. Side note, while the name Madison isn’t very rare in comparison to Magnolia we were happy to use the name as the name had dipped off in popularity significantly and happened to be the least used for the year she was born.

    Reply

  4. Magnolia flowers represent perseverance, endurance, purity, love, beauty, and joy (depending on the color). She was conceived during a time where we really needed those things in our lives emphasized. God has blessed us with her and we’re so grateful.

    Reply

  5. I got the name idea from Hart Of Dixie years ago and loved it. Magnolia is also my favorite tree and her nickname will be Maggie which was my great great grandmother’s name. My mom’s favorite person ever that I didn’t get the chance to meet but supposedly were a lot alike!

    Reply

  6. The name Magnolia is beautiful, sweet, charming, and somewhat uncommon. And there are a lot of options for nicknames.

    Reply

  7. Wanted her nickname to be Maggie after my grandma Margaret. My fianc? recommended Magnolia

    Reply

  8. I’ve always loved the name Magnolia. As soon as I got pregnant with her I just knew it was a girl and that would be her name!

    Reply

  9. Sweet southern belle

    Reply

  10. We had a large list of baby girls names second time around. After her birth, we narrowed the name down to two and decided she looked more like a Magnolia. We love the name. Her middle name is Mae. Most of the time we call her Magnolia, but sometimes we call her Noli for short (and I’m anti nicknames! Lol). We also the name because it isn’t super common.

    Reply

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