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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Thoughts on the name Alma?

91 replies

Emma2727 · 28/01/2021 22:18

We’ve been very stuck choosing a girls name we agree on and recently came across the name Alma. I haven’t really heard it before but I’m aware it’s an old fashioned name- which doesn’t bother me so much.
Is it a nice name? What are some similar names to this? Thanks!!

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BLACKTUESDAY1 · 29/01/2021 16:45

It was my Grandma's name. She was lovely. I have been expecting it to make a comeback!

Thimbleberries · 29/01/2021 16:44

I like Ada better.

Alma also reminds me of Enid Blyton.

But I know these old-fashioned names are popular now. Adeline, Verna, Thelma, Alva, Elva, Selma, Dora, Mona, Vera, all have a similar vibe in my mind.

Correlation · 29/01/2021 16:42

I think it's a lovely name

RestingPandaFace · 29/01/2021 16:40

I like it but have a lot of Spanish friends and know a couple of younger Almas.

Andante57 · 29/01/2021 16:39

It reminds me of Alma Pudden who was a character in one of the Enid Blyton school series. She wasn't nice but EB also wasn't nice to her so it has negative connotations for me

This - even though I last read Enid Blyton school stories about 40 years ago. It’s funny how childhood books stay with you for life.

Whatsyourflava · 29/01/2021 16:38

Alma is lovely

marshmallowfluffy · 29/01/2021 16:36

Alba makes me think of budget electronics range sold at Argos
I don't watch Corrie but know there is (was?) a character called Alma. You'd have to check if she's a good character or not

MusicWithRocksIn1t · 29/01/2021 16:34

I think its beautiful

LouRidley · 29/01/2021 16:32

I love it, very popular for toddlers in France atm

Firebird83 · 29/01/2021 16:17

Lovely. It’s definitely going to make a comeback.

Synchrony · 29/01/2021 13:16

I think it's fine, and probably due for a revival given the similarly popular soft sounding names starting and ending in A's (Ava, Ada, Amelia etc).

Fwiw I think Alba is awful. It sounds made-up to me and I did have an Alba sound system.

Smileandtheworldsmileswithyou · 29/01/2021 12:27

No, I don’t like it at all.

NameChange30 · 29/01/2021 12:20

I like Alma and it was on my list for DD. DH preferred Alba which I didn't like because of the electronics brand! We decided on something else in the end. Still really like Alma though.

CleverCatty · 29/01/2021 12:12

@bleachblondemom

How about Alba? Much nicer.
I don't like Alba either - ex colleague of mine named her now 3 year old DD this, it's the name of a stereo system FFS!
CleverCatty · 29/01/2021 12:12

@Swingometer

Unfortunately I can only think of Coronation Street and a pub called the Alma in my home town

There is nothing wrong with it really but I wouldn't be able to get past the above associations

How about Nora or Ada?

To me all of these names sound old fashioned and elderly!

Having said that, DD of neighbour's in her 30's has a toddler called Ada.

SionnachRua · 29/01/2021 12:10

Alma is lovely. Don't like Alba at all.

However - basing this on your username - if your name is Emma I'd avoid it. Alma and Emma are too similar sounding.

bleachblondemom · 29/01/2021 12:06

How about Alba? Much nicer.

Chilldonaldchill · 29/01/2021 09:29

It reminds me of Alma Pudden who was a character in one of the Enid Blyton school series. She wasn't nice but EB also wasn't nice to her so it has negative connotations for me.
However objectively I can see it's a pretty name.
I actually really like Alba though. It reminds me of the daughter in The Time-Traveller's Wife rather than the electronics brand even though I had an Alba walkman in the 80s....

ILoveStickers · 29/01/2021 08:43

It doesn't have old lady vibes to me at all, and I'm 33 so the Coronation St reference means nothing to me. It just sounds like a Latin word to me, and there is a pub near us called the Alma too.

But short, two syllable girls' names ending in -a aren't my favourite - as a teacher, Alma/Alba/Alva/Ava/Eva/Isla/Elsa/Ella all start blending in to one for me. They feel a tad insubstantial. But that's just personal taste!

LaTomatina · 29/01/2021 08:25

My favourite teacher's name was Alma and she was awesome. Very kind and cheerful and fun. I think her full name was Alexandra Margaret and she got called Alma for short.

Reiningitin · 29/01/2021 08:17

Got to agree with @DramaAlpaca that it's not to my taste but infinitely preferable to Alba which is a lower end electronics make!

horseymum · 29/01/2021 08:02

Alva is a town in Clackmannanshire, I wouldn't use that! Alba means Scotland, would be an unusual choice. I only know a horse called Alma. Nora is pretty if you like old fashioned.

EThreepwood · 29/01/2021 07:58

I know a 5 year old Alma her parents are Spanish.

It suits her well and I like it.

I think some of the backlash on this thread is really weird. I've met more EYFS children with more strange names than Alma and you just accept that that's their name and all kids fit their names IMHO. Kids won't bat an eyelid about bullying until high school/ upper primary possibly and they'll choose anything to bully of a person they think they can get away with. I think MN is having a weird wobbly on this thread.

So if you like it go for it.

abc31 · 29/01/2021 07:54

Don't go for Mater as a middle name

SeahorseoramI · 29/01/2021 07:48

It’s ok. Im not keen on the sound myself but would never raise an eyebrow at the name. I love Nora, even if i think Nora batty first. And alma barlow was a great character.

Alba is awful. Ignore those posters suggesting that monstrosity.