Maybe it's because of where I live, but every time I see Magnolia as a possible name on here, I give it a major side eye. Magnolias are a symbol, perhaps the symbol, of the deep south. They conjure up verandas and debutantes and sweltering summer nights. Magnolias don't even grow up north, so I don't really understand the appeal. Why name a child after something so inextricably linked with a place the parents have no ties to? (An assumption on my part, true, but a pretty solid one I'm confident in.)
I dunno, it'd be like if I named my kid Vermont - plucking a random word from a different part of the country because I thought it had a cool sound. Remember the post about the name Acadia and everyone said, "No, that's a national park in my part of the country and I can't separate it in my mind"? Same thing. I thought Acadia was an offbeat but ok name, but that's because I don't live beside the national park. Since there's a magnolia in my yard, I do think of our summers and history. I'm not saying Magnolia "belongs" to southerners (I can't think of a single southern mom I know who'd use it); I'm just saying it's a little peculiar to borrow the symbol of a different culture.
If you're after the nn Maggie, Margaret, Magdalena, Margot, Marjorie could all get you there.