When was Alma most popular?

The name Alma reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Alma Mai?

The name Alma Mai combines two different traditions: the first name Alma has English roots, while the surname Mai originates from Vietnamese.

Alma Mai — 172K & 17K bearers

Alma Mai is a name that combines English origins. The first name Alma is a feminine given name of English origin. Alma ( AHL-mə) or (according to Jones 1997) /'ælmə/) is an English feminine given name, but has historically been used in the masculine form as well, sometimes in the form Almo. The origin of the name is debated; it may have been derived from "alma mater" ("benevolent mother", a title used for the Virgin Mary, and in antiquity, for several goddesses). It gained popularity after the Battle of Alma in the 19th century and appeared as a fashionable name for girls and a popular place name, but it has decreased in appearance in the 20th and 21st centuries. The surname Mai: Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most. Alma is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 172K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Alma reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Alma

English

Alma ( AHL-mə) or (according to Jones 1997) /'ælmə/) is an English feminine given name, but has historically been used in the masculine form as well, sometimes in the form Almo. The origin of the name is debated; it may have been derived from "alma mater" ("benevolent mother", a title used for the Virgin Mary, and in antiquity, for several goddesses). It gained popularity after the Battle of Alma in the 19th century and appeared as a fashionable name for girls and a popular place name, but it has decreased in appearance in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Surname: Mai

Vietnamese

Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Alma is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Alma by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Alma Mai

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Alma Mai:

5

Expression Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

11

Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Alma?: The first name Alma originates from English. Alma ( AHL-mə) or (according to Jones 1997) /'ælmə/) is an English feminine given name, but has historically been used in the masculine form as well, sometimes in the form Almo. The origin of the name is debated; it may have been derived from "alma mater" ("benevolent mother", a title used for the Virgin Mary, and in antiquity, for several goddesses). It gained popularity after the Battle of Alma in the 19th century and appeared as a fashionable name for girls and a popular place name, but it has decreased in appearance in the 20th and 21st centuries.
When was Alma most popular?: The name Alma reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Mai?: The surname Mai originates from Vietnamese. Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most.
What are the origins of the name Alma Mai?: The name Alma Mai combines two different traditions: the first name Alma has English roots, while the surname Mai originates from Vietnamese.