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Alma

Girl name · 90 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Alma: 90 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 14 births in 2025.

Alma is a name with multiple origins, most commonly traced to the Latin *almus* meaning "nourishing" or "kind," and also to a Scottish Gaelic word for "good" or "excellent." A separate Hebrew root gives it the meaning "maiden" or "young woman," which adds a further layer of depth. Famous bearers include Alma Mahler, the Austrian composer and wife of Gustav Mahler, and Alma Thomas, the celebrated African American abstract painter. The name also features in history as the Battle of Alma, a Crimean War engagement, which in turn lent its name to places like Alma, New Brunswick, and Alma, Michigan. In Scotland, Alma saw a modest but steady popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its gentle sound has kept it in occasional use ever since.