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Magnolia
Pronounced mag-NOH-lee-uh /mæɡˈnoʊ.li.ə/High
Meaning: Named after the magnolia tree, itself named after French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638–1715)High
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Magnolia is a New Latin botanical name coined by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1737 to honor Pierre Magnol (1638–1715), a French physician and botanist who pioneered the concept of plant families. The magnolia tree is native to East Asia and the Americas and is celebrated for its large, fragrant flowers.
As a given name, Magnolia has roots in the American South, where magnolia trees are iconic. It was used occasionally in the 19th century, featured in the musical Show Boat (1927) as a character name, and experienced a strong revival in the 2010s as lavish floral names became fashionable. HGTV's Fixer Upper and Chip and Joanna Gaines's Magnolia brand further boosted the name.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Magnolia Shorty (1982–2010)New Orleans bounce rapper born Renetta Lowe, one of the first women signed to Cash Money Records and dubbed the Queen of Bounce
If you like Magnolia…
Frequently Asked
What does the name Magnolia mean?
Magnolia is a botanical name honoring French botanist Pierre Magnol, after whom Linnaeus named the magnolia tree in 1737.
How do you pronounce Magnolia?
Magnolia is pronounced mag-NOH-lee-uh /mæɡˈnoʊ.li.ə/ — four syllables with stress on the second.
Is Magnolia a boy or girl name?
Magnolia is used exclusively as a girl's name.
How popular is Magnolia?
Magnolia has been rising steadily in the U.S. since the 2010s and now ranks in the top 200 girls' names, part of the lavish floral-name trend.