Magnolia: Forever stuck in the middle?

Hey Berries!

As I see it [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is and always has been acquired taste. She’s botanical; but a bit spunky and very Southern inspired. I love Southern American literature, food, traditions etc. so I really, really like it. I also started to think about the women in my life, my mother, my grandmother, my aunt (who passed a few years back from a stroke) and one of my one friends so I couldn’t help but tie them to [name_m]Robert[/name_m] Harling’s [name_u]Steel[/name_u] Magnolias. They’ve each experienced unbelievable challenges throughout their lives and I feel like they’re still so lovely, fragile and yet incredibly strong.

So my question is could [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nolie[/name_f] every work as a first name or is she forever stuck in the middle? Right now I like [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] “[name_f]Nolie[/name_f]” [name_u]June[/name_u], I know it’s a tad too literal, so I am open to suggestions! :slight_smile:

[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] definitely works as a first. And I’ve always loved [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nolie[/name_f], though [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] could work as well.

I think the name [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is wonderful and evokes much of the same imagery and tone for me as it does for you. The only thing I dislike about this name is the nickname [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. I feel like when there’s an obvious nickname at the beginning of the name then it’s a little inevitable that she’ll be called, in this case, [name_f]Mags[/name_f] or [name_f]Maggie[/name_f].

[name_f]Nolie[/name_f] is a better nn choice in my opinion, or [name_f]Lia[/name_f], but I think you’d have to be okay with at least the occasional [name_f]Mags[/name_f]/[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] happening.

Anyway, I think it works wonderfully as a first name and while underused is still recognized as a name for a child. [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] as a combo is a little thematic, but it’s still lovely.

One of my best friend’s daughter’s name is [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]! Everyone calls her [name_f]Nolie[/name_f], it definitely works as a first name!! Her middle name is [name_f]Sophie[/name_f].

I think [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nolie[/name_f] is definitely fine in the first name spot. Not only is it a flower name, it is a very strong name and is highly reminiscent of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] derivatives ([name_f]Maggie[/name_f], [name_f]Megan[/name_f], [name_f]Margaux[/name_f], [name_f]Molly[/name_f] etc…).
I’m not particularly fond of the name, but I definitely think it works as a first name.

[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is beautiful and definitely usable as a first! I get the same spunky, Southern feel as you do and it’s great that it means so much to you. [name_u]Steel[/name_u] Magnolias is a great reference too.

The only thing is, I wouldn’t pair it with another word name like [name_u]June[/name_u]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]? [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] is also cute but that seems really Southern, and maybe a bit cowgirlish.

Edited for privacy.

[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is a gorgeous first name. Between the long, ultra-girly names that are popular ([name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]) and the botanical/floral names that are rising ([name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Willow[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]), I can’t imagine that a [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] would be too out of place.

[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is a beautiful name! If you think [name_u]June[/name_u] is a bit too much for a middle name maybe [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Claire[/name_f] or [name_u]Blake[/name_u] might work?

[name_f]Love[/name_f] it! Also, the nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is cute.

I’ve always loved [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] since I saw Show Boat and she was the heroine of the story. Her nickname there was [name_m]Nollie[/name_m]. A few years ago I worked with someone whose niece was named [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Joan[/name_f] ([name_f]Joan[/name_f] was her grandmother’s name). They usually called her [name_m]Nollie[/name_m] also but occasionally [name_f]Nola[/name_f]. I think both of those are great what I don’t like is [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] it ruins the uniqueness of the name. The only two middles that I can think of that might work are [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]. [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is a lovely name and would work but [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is ultra southern.