Magnolia
Girl name · #124 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Magnolia? In official American birth records, Magnolia has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 2,233 baby girls were named Magnolia, placing it at #124 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #634, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 806 girls born in 2025 was named Magnolia.
The 145-year story
Magnolia first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 2,233 babies and a rank of #124. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Magnolia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Magnolia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Magnolia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Magnolia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". Popular names carry effortless recognition — the tradeoff is company: expect another Magnolia somewhere in the school year.
Where Magnolia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Magnolia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Magnolia is most common in AK (6 per 1,000), AR (5 per 1,000), MS (3.8 per 1,000), AL (3.8 per 1,000), LA (3.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Magnolia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Magnolia
Statistically, parents drawn to Magnolia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ophelia, Aurelia, Dahlia, Alaia, and Cecilia.
OpheliaAureliaDahliaAlaiaCeciliaEmiliaCatalinaMargot
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Magnolia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,233 | #124 |
| 2024 | 2,155 | #138 |
| 2023 | 1,953 | #145 |
| 2022 | 1,885 | #151 |
| 2021 | 1,966 | #140 |
| 2020 | 1,623 | #176 |
| 2019 | 1,323 | #237 |
| 2018 | 1,048 | #314 |
| 2017 | 816 | #383 |
| 2016 | 618 | #506 |
| 2015 | 450 | #634 |
| 2014 | 336 | #823 |
| 2013 | 259 | #971 |
| 2012 | 221 | #1121 |
| 2011 | 192 | #1244 |
| 2010 | 166 | #1388 |
| 2009 | 141 | #1593 |
| 2008 | 141 | #1605 |
| 2007 | 116 | #1829 |
| 2006 | 100 | #1988 |
| 2005 | 74 | #2379 |
| 2004 | 66 | #2526 |
| 2003 | 58 | #2707 |
| 2002 | 66 | #2414 |
| 2001 | 75 | #2171 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Magnolia?
In official American birth records, the name Magnolia first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Magnolia a popular girl name?
Magnolia ranked #124 among girls in 2025 with 2,233 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #634.
When was the name Magnolia most popular?
Magnolia peaked in 2025, when 2,233 American girls received the name (ranked #124 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Magnolia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 806 newborn American girls was named Magnolia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.