Alma

Nourishing in a major Latin interpretation; ‘soul’ in Spanish.

Alma is a feminine name with more than one origin story. A major European explanation connects it to Latin alma, ‘nourishing’, through the Italian naming tradition. In Spanish, alma means ‘soul’, but that word comes from Latin anima. The two readings can sit beautifully beside each other, yet they are not translations of the same Latin word. Alma is pronounced /ˈæl.mə/ in English, /ˈal.ma/ in Spanish and /al.ma/ in French. The l and m let the sound flow gently, giving it a warm, quietly classic quality. If meaning matters in your choice, the nourishing reading may suggest care, while the Spanish word offers a more inward, poetic image; you can value either connection without folding them into one origin.

Etymology: The Latin explanation connects Alma with alma, the feminine form of almus, nourishing. Spanish alma, soul, instead comes from Latin anima.