Girl name · Latin
Alma
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: soul, nourishingAlma is a girl's name that comes from Latin and means "soul, nourishing". It is used in Spanish, English, Scandinavian and French.
- Meaning
- Soul, nourishing
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- AHL-mah (Spanish)
Meaning and origin of Alma
As a girl's name, Alma comes from Latin and means "soul, nourishing". It is used in Spanish, English, Scandinavian and French.
In Spanish, say AHL-mah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Alma on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Alma on 1 list.
“Soul in Spanish; Latin almus means nourishing. Say AHL-mah”
From Spanish girl names, popular Spanish girls' names in Spain (INE 2024)
How popular is Alma?
- US rank in 2025
- #449
- 689 babies, 429 per million girls
- Best rank
- #51 in 1896
- Most babies: 3,650 in 1918
- Babies since 1880
- At least 163,723
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 3,954 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5,034 per million |
| 1900s | 4,472 per million |
| 1910s | 3,373 per million |
| 1920s | 2,546 per million |
| 1930s | 1,712 per million |
| 1940s | 856 per million |
| 1950s | 501 per million |
| 1960s | 349 per million |
| 1970s | 362 per million |
| 1980s | 331 per million |
| 1990s | 335 per million |
| 2000s | 246 per million |
| 2010s | 227 per million |
| 2020s | 391 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #724 | #651 | #649 | #615 | #560 | #507 | #483 | #461 | #471 | #449 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Alma
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AlbaThe dawn (Latin, girl)
- AldaWave (Icelandic, girl)
- AlmazDiamond (Persian, girl)
- AlvaElf, elfin (Old Norse, girl)
- AmaBorn on Saturday (Akan, girl)
- AsmaSupreme, higher (Arabic, girl)
- AnnaFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- AlinaShort form of Adelina, Albina and names ending in -alina (Germanic, girl)
- AdaNoble (Germanic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- CanSoul, life (Persian, boy)
- CansuSoul, water (Turkish, girl)
- PsycheSoul (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Alma
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Latin
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
- JulianaFeminine form of Julian, from the Roman family name Julius (Latin, girl)
- LuciaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LunaThe moon (Latin, girl)
- RosaRose flower (Latin, girl)
- SabinaSabine woman (Latin, girl)
- AmandaWorthy of love (Latin, girl)
- AureliaGolden (Latin, girl)
- AuroraThe dawn (Latin, girl)
Alma: common questions
What does the name Alma mean?
Alma comes from Latin and means "soul, nourishing".
Is Alma a boy or girl name?
Alma is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 689 girls and 7 boys in the US were named Alma, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Alma come from?
Alma comes from Latin and means "soul, nourishing". Today it is used in Spanish, English, Scandinavian and French.
How do you pronounce Alma?
In Spanish, say AHL-mah. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Alma?
Alma ranked #449 in the US in 2025, with 689 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Alma?
Names spelled like Alma include Alba, Alda, Almaz, Alva and Ama.
What middle names go with Alma?
Middle names that flow well with Alma include Belle, Estelle, Isabella, Juniper and Louise. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.