Magnolia
A feminine name derived from the botanical genus of flowering trees.
Name Census estimates that about 17,011 living Americans carry the first name Magnolia. It sits at #138 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Magnolia today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Magnolia births was 2024 (2,146 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Magnolia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Magnolia is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 11 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
17K
~ 1 in 20,149 Americans
Peak year
2024
2,146 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#138
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Magnolia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Magnolia from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 9,568 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Magnolia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Magnolia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Magnolias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 50 states and territories. Texas, California, Georgia recorded the most babies named Magnolia, while Rhode Island, North Dakota, District of Columbia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 356 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Magnolia
The name Magnolia has its origins in the ancient Greek language, deriving from the word "magnolía," which translates to "the noble tree." This name gained prominence during the 16th century, when botanists studying the flora of the Americas encountered a striking evergreen tree with large, fragrant blossoms. Inspired by its majestic beauty, they named the genus after the French botanist Pierre Magnol, who had made significant contributions to the classification of plants.
While the name Magnolia initially referred to the botanical genus, it gradually transitioned into a given name for individuals, particularly in Western cultures. One of the earliest recorded instances of Magnolia as a first name dates back to the late 18th century, when the American botanist and explorer William Bartram named his daughter Magnolia after the iconic tree he had encountered during his travels.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Magnolia. One such individual was Magnolia Lewis Sexton (1835-1903), an American entrepreneur and philanthropist from Mississippi, known for her charitable contributions to educational institutions and her advocacy for women's rights.
Another prominent figure was Magnolia Tilden (1907-1966), an American actress and singer who graced the stages of Broadway and Hollywood during the mid-20th century. Her performances in musicals and films garnered critical acclaim, cementing her legacy in the entertainment industry.
In the literary realm, Magnolia Dukkipati (1943-2022) was an Indian-American writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience. Her poetry collections, such as "Footfalls in the Night" and "The Dhvani-Deep," received widespread recognition and acclaim.
The name Magnolia also found its way into the world of sports, with Magnolia Myrtle Hampton (1918-1994), an American softball player and coach. She was a pioneering figure in women's sports, known for her exceptional pitching skills and her dedication to promoting softball at both the amateur and professional levels.
Another notable figure was Magnolia Liang (1929-2018), a Chinese-American artist and sculptor renowned for her intricate ceramic works that celebrated her cultural heritage. Her creations were widely exhibited in galleries and museums, earning her recognition as a significant contributor to the contemporary art scene.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Magnolia, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.
People
Magnolia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Magnolia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Magnolia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Magnolia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 17,011 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Magnolia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 20,149 US residents.
Is Magnolia a common name?
We classify Magnolia as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 21,154 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Magnolia most popular?
The single biggest year for Magnolia was 2024, when 2,146 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Magnolia is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Magnolia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Magnolia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.