Alma vs Madeleine

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Alma

Girl #472 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"nourishing, kind"

Origin: Latin

Cultural Roots

Latin Spanish English Hebrew

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#472
Total SSA Count
653
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Allie, Al

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Alma →

Madeleine

Girl #437 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"woman from Magdala"

Origin: Hebrew via Greek

Cultural Roots

French English German Scandinavian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#437
Total SSA Count
707
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Maddie, Maddy, Ellie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Madeleine →

Popularity Comparison

Alma Rank #472
Madeleine Rank #437

Madeleine is more popular, ranked #437 vs #472 for Alma.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Alma ___

  • Alma Rose
  • Alma Jean
  • Alma Mae
  • Alma Claire
  • Alma Louise
  • Alma Frances

Madeleine ___

  • Madeleine Rose
  • Madeleine Claire
  • Madeleine Anne
  • Madeleine Louise
  • Madeleine Grace
  • Madeleine Frances

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Alma

Cora Vera Flora Hazel Nora

If you choose Madeleine

Josephine Eleanor Cecily Sebastian Hugo

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alma or Madeleine more popular?

Madeleine is more popular, ranked #437 compared to Alma at #472 in the United States.

What do Alma and Madeleine mean?

Alma means "nourishing, kind" (Latin origin). Madeleine means "woman from Magdala" (Hebrew via Greek origin).

Are Alma and Madeleine boy or girl names?

Alma is primarily a girl name. Madeleine is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Alma ← Full profile: Madeleine Browse all baby names