Alma
Say it: AL-ma/ˈælmə/
GirlMeans usually explained as "nourishing" or "kind"4 letters2 syllables
#226
in Ireland (2025)
#229 with spellings combined
19
babies in 2025
#204
best rank (1978)
525
babies since 1964
Up 357
10-year rank change
Alma through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | #229 |
| 2024 | 20 | #216 |
| 2023 | 5 | #612 |
| 2022 | 10 | #384 |
| 2021 | 16 | #273 |
| 2020 | 9 | #407 |
| 2019 | 7 | #498 |
| 2018 | 7 | #504 |
| 2017 | 6 | #580 |
| 2016 | 7 | #518 |
| 2015 | 6 | #586 |
| 2014 | 5 | #663 |
| 2013 | 5 | #664 |
| 2012 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 3 | #932 |
| 2010 | 5 | #666 |
| 2007 | 3 | #841 |
| 2006 | 3 | #763 |
| 2002 | 5 | #443 |
| 1999 | 3 | #527 |
| 1997 | 4 | #496 |
| 1996 | 3 | #534 |
| 1992 | 4 | #455 |
| 1991 | 7 | #365 |
| 1990 | 7 | #357 |
| 1989 | 11 | #285 |
| 1988 | 12 | #280 |
| 1987 | 16 | #242 |
| 1986 | 15 | #250 |
| 1985 | 16 | #242 |
| 1984 | 14 | #267 |
| 1983 | 20 | #224 |
| 1982 | 18 | #248 |
| 1981 | 12 | #299 |
| 1980 | 25 | #211 |
| 1979 | 19 | #236 |
| 1978 | 27 | #204 |
| 1977 | 17 | #240 |
| 1976 | 19 | #229 |
| 1975 | 9 | #308 |
| 1974 | 15 | #255 |
| 1973 | 14 | #262 |
| 1972 | 7 | #332 |
| 1971 | 16 | #234 |
| 1970 | 13 | #230 |
| 1969 | 7 | #303 |
| 1968 | 10 | #250 |
| 1967 | 3 | #393 |
| 1966 | 5 | #310 |
| 1965 | 7 | #262 |
| 1964 | 4 | #327 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Alma mean?
Usually explained as "nourishing" or "kind"
Usually traced to Latin alma (nourishing, kind), though the origin is debated.
Say it right
ALma
The story of Alma
Alma is usually linked to the Latin word alma, meaning nourishing or kind, the same word found in the phrase alma mater. Its origin as a name is debated, though. It has also been used as a short form of old Germanic names beginning with Amal-, and it happens to be a word in other languages too, such as Spanish, where alma means soul.
The name took off in Britain after the Battle of the Alma in 1854, during the Crimean War, when it was given to girls and to places alike. It was a fashionable choice through the Victorian years and then faded during the twentieth century.
In Ireland Alma was already in use when the CSO records begin. Its best year was 1978, when 27 girls were named Alma and it reached number 204. It dropped to just a handful of babies a year from the 1990s, but it has picked up again recently, with 20 babies in 2024 and 19 babies in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Alma (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Alma (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Alma | 19 | 525 |