Maggie, Oli, Magnolia

[FlyingPeanut]

Been thinking of the name Magnolia for my first girl. I love the shortenings Maggie and Oli. I guess I'm asking when do you decide? Do I use both interchangeably until one feels more right? I'm also horribly aware that Maggie has some less than favorable political history attached to the name. And essentially I'm overthinking everything.
Advice please

It's a pity that people think of a paint shade before they think of the spectacular tree - have you just not come across a magnolia before?

Anyway, as a name it's a bit of a mouthful, but people will just get used to it. "Oli" doesn't seem a natural nickname for it, even if the letters are there. You could also go for Lia.

Maggie is nice. Oli is all boys to me (and it’s not as nice a sound). I go back and forth on Magnolia as it looks pretty but can be more of a mouthful to say and I think I personally prefer the sound of Magdelene for Maggie (assuming classic Margaret is out of the running).

There have been plenty of Maggie’s (and Margaret’s) other than Thatcher so I don’t think that’s really an issue at all.

I agree with those that have said Noli seems like a more natural diminutive. I thought that as soon as I read the title.

Also I like the name Magnolia, it will be hated on MN because it is not a classic. Everyone here loves to hate any name that might be a bit different.

I have indeed come across a magnolia
tree and the lovely flowers before, but I've come across many more magnolia walls. That is going to be an association that people make, whether its a shame or not. I don't think its a mouthful particularly, but it is a very well used shade of paint.

OP my little girl is called Magnolia. People can be really rude here. It’s a beautiful name, after a beautiful tree. In real life people comment that they’ve never met a Magnolia before, but it doesn’t really matter what other people think if you like it. My DD goes by Maggie day to day but if you ask her her name for a form or whatever she’ll say Magnolia. Sometimes she says ‘Magnolia tree’ which is very sweet. She is only 3!

Perhaps it's more a reflection on me... Still only renting, so paint shades are above my head 😅

Babies called Magnolia in England & Wales since 1996

it’s the paint colour considered the most boring. It’s like being called Beige.
The flower was named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Back when I rented everything was magnolia!

Magnolias are so lovely and come in a variety of colours, some very vibrant. It works well as a name.

I like it! Maggie and Ollie are both nice nicknames, I know 3 female Ollies. (2 are Olivia and one is Ophelia)

I’d just go with Maggie, it’s a lovely name.

Magnolia is awful (sorry) and Oli is a male name although much better than Magnolia.

@FlyingPeanut how about the name Marigold?

I did not know that Magnolia is a paint colour, I just know that it's a very beautiful flower! Most magnolia trees I have seen have pink flowers, very pretty.

I think Magnolia can be a very pretty name!
It can also make one think of the movie "Steel Magnolias".

They've done well to catch themselves and just say that...

It does matter, because if the overwhelming opinion is that people don't like it, then the chances of a child liking it are slim. And they have to live with it. Hopefully your daughter takes after you and likes it as she gets older.

I'm with all the people thinking this.

It is a terrible idea.

I quite like 'Maggie' (from Margaret), but the 'Oli' in Magnolia is a longer "oh" sound, like the 'o' in boat or low, not the 'o' like in the middle of hot or at the start of Oliver.
All Oli's I've ever come across are Oliver.

Well, aren’t you a peach?

Thankfully, our family doesn't make decisions based on the ‘overwhelming’ opinions of others.

It’s a name. It means as much or as little as you want it to. I don’t particularly like my name, but it doesn’t figure in my life particularly strongly. There’s far more important things about me. I’ll be teaching my daughter to wear her name lightly.

Sorry but Magnolia is an awful name. It’s a paint colour or a tree.

My dogs name is Maggie.

Magnolia - why?- no.
Oli. - what? No
Maggie - just ugly, no, no.

I know a young person called Magnolia. She is widely known as Nola.