The name Alma is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "soul".

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A rising vintage sweetheart for girls and a fresh new possibility for boys, following the likes of Nova. As a feminine name, it first became fashionable in England following the Battle of Alma – named for the Russian river – during the Crimean War. As a masculine name, it has been predominantly used among Mormons, owing to its appearance in the Book of Mormon.

A name with a variety of different roots, it is usually linked to anima, the Latin for "soul", and has the same meaning in modern Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, however, it may also mean "young woman" in Hebrew and "apple" in Kazakh.
 
Its meaning in Mormonism isn't known for certain, but it appears in the Book of Mormon twice on a father and son, who are shown to be corrupt and rebellious before they then repent. 
 
Featured as a masculine name in the novel A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray, Alma was chosen for 10 boys in the US in a recent year, compared to 650 girls.

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Alma

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The name Alma peaked for boys at #461 in 1881. The name is most popular in ALMA and ALMA. Alma is also used for girls, ranking #449 in 2025.

The name Alma is a girl's name of Hebrew, Latin origin meaning "nurturing, soul; young woman; apple".

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Alma is a solemn, soulful, yet gentle sounding name that became fashionable in England following the Battle of Alma during the 19th century Crimean War. A name with multiple origins, Alma has subtle, international flair and plenty of vintage charm. 
 
From its Latin roots, Alma is linked to anima meaning "soul", and has the same meaning in modern Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. In Hebrew, it means "young woman", while in Kazakh, it means "apple". It also appears in the Book of Mormon as a masculine name. 
 In addition to being familiar via the term alma mater, Alma has many cultural ties, such as Alma Mahler, a 19th Century composer and musician and the character Alma Del Mar played by Michelle Williams in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain. Other characters named Alma have appeared in Deadwood, The Hunger Games, American Horror Story, and The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. In the Tennessee Williams play Summer and Smoke, a character named Alma explains that her name is "Spanish for soul."
 
Given to 650 girls in the US in a recent year, Alma is a favorite in Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Uruguay, France, Denmark, and Argentina, where recent counts have seen it rank in the Top 20. It is also popular in England and Wales, Chile, Finland, and Israel. 
 
In tune with the likes of Anna, Emma, and Ella, along with Ada and Alba, we can see Alma also rising again in the US.

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The name Alma is currently ranked #449 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #51 in 1897. The name is most popular in ALMA, ALMA, and ALMA. Alma is occasionally used for boys in 2025.

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