How to say it
AL · ma
/ˈɑːl.mə/
Feminine
Alma
Nourishing; soul
What it means
From the Latin almus, 'nourishing, kind,' and the Spanish and Italian alma, 'soul.'
Alma carries two warm meanings. In Latin almus means 'nourishing' or 'kind,' the source of alma mater, 'nourishing mother.' In Spanish and Italian alma simply means 'soul.' The name got an early boost from the 1854 Battle of Alma and has a soft, old-world grace. Brief and heartfelt, said AHL-muh.
Popularity over time
peaked at #51 in 1896, currently #449 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Means 'soul' in Spanish and Italian.
Spelling variants
- Allma
- Almah
Names with the same feeling
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By style