Baby Name Popularity Profile

Alma

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Alma.

✦ Nourishing, kind, or soul 🌍 Latin, Spanish, Italian traditional virtue
National Rank (2025) #449
All-Time Peak Rank #51 Achieved 1896
Total U.S. Births 163,723 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 1.1% Boy / 98.9% Girl Overwhelmingly Female
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1920s 3,650 births in 1918
💡 The Alma Vibe: Considered a Vintage Revival. A classic name from early generations that is currently experiencing a measurable statistical resurgence.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Nourishing, kind, or soul
Language Origin Latin, Spanish, Italian
Origin Type multiple
Derived from Latin *almus* meaning 'nourishing' or 'kind'. It is also the Spanish and Italian word for 'soul', which itself has Latin roots.
Pronunciation: AHL-mah
Themes & Categories
traditional virtue
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Alma

According to SSA data, Alma achieved its highest historical rank of #51 in 1896. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1918 with 3,650 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 65.2%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Alma across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +65.2% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 3,650 births in 1918
Years in Top 100 48 yrs
Years in Top 500 125 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 5,190
1890s: 11,184
1900s: 13,092
1910s: 27,515
1920s: 30,434
1930s: 18,251
1940s: 12,401
1950s: 9,637
1960s: 6,382
1970s: 5,592
1980s: 5,688
1990s: 6,030
2000s: 4,553
2010s: 3,965
2020s: 3,809

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Al-ma
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with A, a letter used by only 10.8% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Alma.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Kentucky
Top States Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama
States with Data 50
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Kentucky Unranked 5,420 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 3,301 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 3,612 1924 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 2,532 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama Unranked 4,211 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #605 4,868 1924 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #408 3,257 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma Unranked 2,981 1918 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #687 6,177 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #422 16,206 1956 +60.0% Growth
Louisiana Unranked 3,749 1917 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 688 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #676 5,194 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #611 4,093 1922 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 570 1922 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #594 3,647 1918 Insufficient historical volume
California #327 13,182 1991 +22.2% Growth
Arizona #548 1,564 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas Unranked 1,280 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #596 6,101 1921 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 555 1932 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #421 2,383 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #209 3,381 2025 +181.2% Growth
Illinois #419 4,811 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #484 4,338 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #398 681 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #643 1,060 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #460 1,280 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 254 1916 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 367 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #498 1,085 1915 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #274 659 1919 Insufficient historical volume
New York #329 5,523 1918 +13.3% Growth
Washington #343 1,127 1917 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #408 1,878 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 297 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #222 1,202 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #556 2,356 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 186 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #354 1,470 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 72 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 91 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #799 1,037 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 204 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #323 505 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #438 119 1993 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 87 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 93 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #492 170 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 34 1917 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Julius Francis Frank Emil Omer Myer Cleo Ivor Roma Orel
👧 Sister Suggestions
Opal Helen Edith Lottie Nellie Florence Leona Mae Cecelia Vera

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