Alma vs Leigha
Alma and Leighacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #234 and Leigha #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alma was ranked #270 and Leigha #586 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alma and Leigha over time
Alma and Leigha appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Leigha held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leigha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alma in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Alma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leigha in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alma #228 in 2023, Leigha #668 in 2005.
The order changed in 2011: Alma moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #1040 and #965; by 2011 that had become #702 and #1438.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alma #234, Leigha #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2021
Alma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Leigha in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alma #270 in 2021, Leigha #374 in 2002.
The order changed in 2015: Alma moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #660 and #540; by 2015 that had become #581 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alma #270, Leigha #586.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alma | Leigha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 73/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma and Leigha both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Alma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #293 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Leigha
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #451 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2000–2017
Highest recorded position: #268 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2012 (recorded 2000–2017).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls