This is my name, and I went through a phase of hating it, but now I love it! It’s pretty, unique (even though one of my best friends has it too, which is strange!) and has a great meaning and history. It was the only name my parents could agree on, boy or girl, and I’m so glad they chose it for me.
My name is Alma, and I like it. To all those who think Alma would be a 'farty old lady', you're wrong - I'm 12 years old! It can mean soul, apple, and, in Hebrew (I come from Israel), young woman. I think my name is beautiful, but you're entitled to you're opinions.
It’s very pretty, but it sounds like almond. Also the name of the program my school uses to grade us and make our schedules. Also the name of Doc’s neighbor’s little sister on Doc McStuffins...don’t ask me why I know that.
Some people here are being so close minded about this name! Just because you've never met a young Alma doesn't mean everyone named Alma is "a farty old lady" or whatever. I think it's very pretty and has a lot of sentiment packed into it.
― Anonymous User 9/2/2020
17
I was born Mary Alma but called Alma. Growing up I wasn't happy with the name. A lot of people made rude comments so at first I asked to be called Mary. But later I really liked it. I could have made fun of theirs but I am not impolite to others. Some girls tried to change the pronunciation to Elma or Allma or Olma- my reply to them was when you say Albert or Alwin you don't pronounce it as Allbert or Allwin. One woman said Alma sounded harsh so I said "Then don't say my name." She took the huff! Personally everybody's given a name that is theirs alone. I have been amazed by so many of the comments made here - why be so rude. I am proud to be called Alma. It can mean Apple (my Dad called me the "apple of his eye") from the bible. It also means VIRGIN (that's good isn't it?) or young maiden. I once was a virgin and a young maiden. The name also means kind, pleasing and caring SO WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE Eh!? That's what I'm like - hip hip Hooray!
We named our daughter this. We've had people think her name is Emma and Elmo.We pronounce it ALL-ma, but many people pronounce it AL-ma (like Alps) even after being corrected. I know that's a common pronunciation, but it is annoying when people can't hear the difference.Also a little girl she plays with has a German grandmother, which is Oma in German. That caused some confusion for their family.
My name is Alma. From elementary to high school I was the only Alma at school. I was never bullied because of my name. There really is nothing about this name that would bring about any type of bullying. When I was 19 I worked at a grocery store and there for the first time I met another Alma. While working there many people noticed my name, and said that it was a beautiful and old name. Others would tell me that their sister, mother, or grandma's name was Alma. Those people were older. I never thought much about my name, but it was nice knowing that there is actually many others who share the same name as me. English speakers have asked a lot about the pronunciation of my name. I usually pronounce it in a way that is easy for them to say, but I prefer the Spanish pronunciation. The English pronunciation can sound stuffy and forced if said a certain way. Well, that's all I have to say about the name Alma.
For not much of a reason other than my personal opinion, I just don't care much for this name. It's certainly not 100% dreadful but at the same time, I don't see anything special about it. The name doesn't "sparkle" for me, if you will. It does makes me think of Alabama (ALabaMA)
― Anonymous User 6/23/2016
-8
We named our daughter born in 2015 this and the two most frequent comments we get are that it's beautiful or that it's an old name to which I just say that the only person I ever met with the name was born in the 1980s like me. The other top responses are a blank stare or confusion about pronunciation.No nicknames so far, but the easiest, Allie, was used by my niece when she was little so :). Otherwise, my family likes to call her Almond Joy.
My full name is Alma Jean. I was named after my aunt and was told it is a common southern name. I really didn't like it when I was younger in school. As I've gotten older, I like it more and more.
One day Alma is going to be the name of my first daughter (if I get one). Everyone seems to think that it's a name for an old lady and not a little girl, but I beg to differ. At first I didn't really pay this name any mind, but when you really listen to it, it has a lovely sound to it. I don't think this is the kind of name that would get you bullied, it doesn't have any bad meaning to it. The person makes the name, not the other way around.
My name is Alma Lilia. When I was younger I didn't like the name because even my own siblings couldn't pronounce it properly. To this day they pronounce it "Elma", but now I love my name. I enjoy the fact that it is not a common name. It has a very long history that dates back to the Bible and Aramaic which is the base for Hebrew and Arabic. After the Crimean War, it was used for males and then became feminine again. It has been used all over western Europe and has extended to Mexico and the United States, but it is still not commonly used. It has a very rich history, too much to type here, so anyone with the name should do their research and enjoy such a historic name.
My name is Alma Jean. My grandmother gave it to me and for 55 years I didn't like it. But in the last 6 I have come to love it. It made me who I am, it gave me strength and creativity. I only met one person of my age growing up who had Alma as a middle name.
My name is Alma. I have had it over 80 years. Hated it as a young girl. Then living in the Southwest my name became one I learned to accept. Love the Spanish meaning "soul" and a new respect that came with it. So many have shared they have a favorite relative with the name Alma. By the way, I got it from my Swedish grandmother. We were not always old ladies. Embrace your names. We are all unique.
Alma is one of my middle names, I was given it in honour of my great grandmother. I do get teased about it at times, but I don't really mind. I used to hate it, but now I think it's really pretty and I like having it as a middle name.
My name is Alma, and I really like it. It's not very common here in Australia, and people frequently mistake it for other names the first time they hear it (I've had Emma, Amy, Amber and bizarrely, Annabelle, a lot), but I still like it. I've never met another Alma, though sometimes people tell me they have grandmothers called Alma. I went by Allie when I was younger, because it felt too old to me, though my friend tells me she doesn't think of it as an old name, just an unusual one because most Almas are dead now.
Pick-alma, pick-alma, pick-alma! Any Norwegian will understand this. Or if you watch foreign cinema. Never liked the name, but now anyone called this in Norway is horribly teased!
― Anonymous User 8/8/2012
-3
People practically have orgasms over this name, but I never thought is was THAT great. Yes, it's pretty and it has its own charm, but it's not the be-all and end-all. It kind of sounds like the name of an old lady who can't stop farting.
― Anonymous User 5/26/2012
-8
My name is Alma but people usually just call me Emma because they can't pronounce it properly.
― Anonymous User 7/20/2010
2
Personally, I'm happy that I'm named Alma. I think it's a nice name, and unique, especially since I'm of Chinese heritage. Most of my relatives didn't know my name existed at first. I've never been bullied in school for it, and although most Almas are older women, I still think it fits young girls.
This is a lovely name. Alma sounds unique without being strange, unlike a lot of names nowadays. I am glad that it isn't too popular now and would consider using this name if I had a girl.
― Anonymous User 12/29/2008
3
I think this is a very beautiful name that will always be associated with the Spanish word for soul.It was the name of the heroine in The History of Love.
― Anonymous User 8/1/2008
3
As a language practicant in Helsinki, I have actually come across a poor little girl named Alma in the German kindergarten. I have no idea what her parents were thinking. This is no name for cute, blonde little girls in the 21st century. What comes to mind is an old, kooky woman who rants to strangers and looks like she hasn't showered in about two years. I think there's even a Finnish expression, ''kassi-alma'', which is basically the Finnish expression for a homeless bag lady. I don't know how common it is in usage, but I still feel sorry for the girl.
My dog's named Alma. For me, this is an old name, maybe fitting an old lady, but not a child or a young woman. If my daughter would have the name Alma, she would definitely be bullied in school for it.
― Anonymous User 9/15/2007
-4
I am 19 years old and my name is Alma and as a response to a previous comment, I was never bullied in school because of it.
Considering there aren't really any other well-known modern Almas, I have a feeling that this name is going to be associated with Alma in Brokeback Mountain for a while. Nice enough woman, but given that her role in the story is to be the long-suffering wife of a gay man, it's not the best of associations.