Alma Name Meaning & Origin
Alma
Origin of the name Alma:
Derived from the Latin almus (nourishing, fostering). Alternatively, Alma may be a direct borrowing from the Spanish alma (soul).
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Alma Over Time

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Name Lists Featuring Alma
- Danish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Denmark 2014
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden
- Finnish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Finland 2014
- Spanish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Spain 2014
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France 2014
- Danish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Denmark, 2010
- Spanish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Spain, 2010
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden, 2010
- Argentinian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Argentina (Buenos Aires) 2014
- Argentinian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Argentina (Buenos Aires) 2011
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden for 2012
- Spanish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Spain 2012
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France
- Spanish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Spain
- Danish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Denmark 2015
- Norwegian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Norway
Contribute your knowledge to the name Alma
- Comments and insights on the name Alma
It's "dear" in Latin, which many will recognize from the phrase "Alma Mater" (literally "dear mother", but used for the school you attended)
Alma is the Portuguese and Spanish word for "soul". If I ever have a daughter, I'll use this name. It's perfect: international, beautiful, not over-used (at least in most countries) and, yes, soulful.
Alma is also means "apple" in hungarian. This is a really beautiful and unique name.
USAGE: English, Spanish, Italian
PRONOUNCED: AL-mə (English)- Personal experiences with the name Alma
My best friend's name is Alma. I love the name, and so does she! I call her Almy (but that's just because we're best friends, other people just call her Alma).
I have an aunt named Alma, I've never thought much of her name one way or the other, but in the last few years of my life, I've really come to love it. She's never had any children due to medical reasons and always desperately wanted one. Hoping that I can convince my husband to one day agree to using it should we have a daughter. She's the sweetest lady anyone could ever meet, and has always been one of my favorite relatives, I'd love to have a daughter one day to bestow her name on, I think it's a highly under rated name that would be a good one to pick for something traditional, yet unique enough to stand out. It's definitely one of the older generational names and with names like Agnes and Margo being used more, Alma would fit right in with those in a classroom.
My name is Alma and i really love my name. My friends and my family just call me Almy or Almika. When i was younger, kids used to make joke from my name, because it means "apple" in Hungarian (i'm Hungarian), and it sounds wierd to them. But honestly i don't care.
- Nicknames for Alma
- Meanings and history of the name Alma
Spanish and Italian, "soul" or "spirit" with a connotation of nourishment; the child feeds one's soul or lifts the spirit.
The meaning of the name Alma is "soul, good, maiden" etc...
Alma means "soul" in Spanish, "little girl" in Hebrew, and "apple" in Hungarian, but can also be found in collections of Celtic names.
This name became popular after the Battle of Alma (1854), which took place near the River Alma in Crimea and ended in a victory for Britain and France. However, the name was in rare use before the battle; it was probably inspired by Latin almus "nourishing". It also coincides with the Spanish word meaning "the soul".
- Famous real-life people named Alma
Alma Mahler-Werfel (nee Schindler,) an Austrian socialite who married composer Gustav Mahler, architect Walter Gropius, and novelist Franz Werfel, successively, in addition to passionate affairs with artists Oskar Kokoschka and Gustav Klimt.
Alma Prica (1962- ), notable actress
Alma Rubens- silent film actress- Alma in song, story & screen
Tom Lehrer wrote the song "Alma" about Alma Mahler-Werfel ("Alma, tell us / All modern women are jealous / Which of your magical wands / Got you Gustav and Walter and Franz? ...")
There is a character in the Book of Mormon named Alma who is a male prophet.
Alma, title character in 1910 musical Alma, Where Do You Live?
Alma Garret Ellsworth - character played by Molly Parker in the tv series Deadwood.
Alma Lefay Peregrine- One of the main characters in Miss Peregrines home for peculiar children
Alma Coin, a character from The Hunger Games
Alma is the name of a recurring character on Doc McStuffins