Alma

Depending on language and tradition, it is associated with ideas like “nourishing” (Latin-based explanations) and “soul” (Spanish usage).

Alma is a concise feminine given name used in multiple cultures, and its appeal often comes from being simple, soft-sounding, and easy to write. Because it exists across languages, its commonly cited meaning can shift depending on which tradition a source emphasizes. In Latin-based explanations, Alma is frequently connected to Latin almus, often glossed as “nourishing,” which fits the name’s gentle, steady feel in many write-ups. In Spanish-language contexts, alma is also the everyday word for “soul,” which strongly influences how people interpret the name today. That does not require the name to have a single fixed “literal” meaning everywhere, but it does explain why different references summarize it differently. Pronunciation in English is often AHL-ma, and because it is short, it is usually straightforward to pronounce across accents.

Etymology: In Latin-based explanations it’s often linked to Latin almus (“nourishing”). In Spanish usage, alma is also the common word for “soul,” which shapes modern associations.