ALMA  

Gender: F
Origin: Latin
Meaning: "soul"

Popularity in 2008: #792

This somewhat solemn name had a burst of popularity a century ago, then faded into the flowered wallpaper -- heard mostly in the term alma mater. Always well used in Hispanic families, it could just make a comeback, a la Ella and Ada; appreciated for its simplicity and soul.

Variations:
Almah, Allma

Alma is being discussed in our message boards:

• Modelicious
• Help Brainstorming New Ideas for Baby Kick
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• People named after something else

Read Nameberry blog posts about Alma:

• THE LOST BOYS’ NAMES OF 1880
• VINTAGE NAMES: 100-Year-Old Names That Sound New Again
• 70'S BABY NAMES: Beyond Tiffany & Todd
• HELLO DOLLY: Names from the Doll World
• MARDI GRAS NAMES: Baby Names from the Bayou