Alma
Alma was the 449th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 689 babies. Its best year was 1896, when it ranked 51st; the most babies were born in 1918 (3,650). Over the last ten years it has moved up 235 places. More babies were named Alma in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning nourishing, kind · Latin, Spanish
Say it AL-muh /ˈælmə/
- Rank in 2025
- #449 girls, up 111 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 689girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19183,650 babies
- Total since 1880
- 165,942babies recorded
What does the name Alma mean?
Alma is usually explained as Latin alma, "nourishing, kind", as in alma mater, "nourishing mother". Wiktionary notes it has also served as a short form of Germanic names beginning with Amal-. The Random House dictionary glosses it "kind", from Latin. It is also Spanish for "soul", and a prophet's name in the Book of Mormon.
almus (Latin, “nourishing, kind”)alma (Spanish, “soul”)
How sure is this? Probable. Several sources share the form; 'nourishing' is the usual explanation.
Related names: Amalia, Almeda.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alma', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Alma', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Alma popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 2,219 since 1880, 7 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #449 | 689 |
| 2020 | #560 | 524 |
| 2010 | #844 | 318 |
| 2000 | #491 | 548 |
| 1990 | #386 | 685 |
| 1980 | #358 | 658 |
| 1970 | #420 | 534 |
| 1960 | #334 | 788 |
| 1950 | #232 | 1,052 |
| 1940 | #152 | 1,428 |
| 1930 | #109 | 2,380 |
| 1920 | #80 | 3,584 |
| 1910 | #61 | 1,630 |
| 1900 | #57 | 1,372 |
| 1890 | #57 | 922 |
| 1880 | #82 | 277 |
How popular is Alma, counting every spelling?
Alma has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #464 for girls in 2025, against #449 on the official list, because Jazlyn/Jazlynn/Jazzlyn and Reign/Rayne/Rain and Arlette/Arlet/Arlett move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Alma?
689 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alma (0.19 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Alma born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 12 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alma.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alma?
About 53,000 people born in the US named Alma are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 28 and 74. That makes Alma mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Alma by state
How common Alma was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (2.6×), Oregon (2.4×), Florida (1.9×), Massachusetts (1.8×), New York (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Kansas, Iowa.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alma: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alma, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Alma · Sibling names for Alma
Questions about the name Alma
What does Alma mean?
Alma means “nourishing, kind” (Latin, Spanish origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Alma?
Alma was the 449th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 689 babies. Its best year was 1896, when it ranked 51st; the most babies were born in 1918 (3,650). Over the last ten years it has moved up 235 places. More babies were named Alma in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Alma a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Alma in the US.
Where is Alma most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alma was most common in Minnesota (1.07 per 1,000 girls), followed by Oregon and Florida.