Namewise

Alma vs Louise

Alma and Louisecompared 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.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #8 and Louise #59 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Louise #816 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Alma was ranked #315 and Louise #476 among girls in Scotland.

Alma and Louise over time

Alma and Louise appear together in 3 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 3 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.

Alma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Louise in 1. 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.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2007, Alma moved ahead of Louise in Norway · Girls — #119 and #116 the year before became #102 and #141.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alma and Louise changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2025, ending at #8 and #59.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alma and Louise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #211 and #816.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Alma #5 in 2023, Louise #59 in 2025.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1946–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Louise in 34.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Louise #59 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2007: Alma moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #119 and #116; by 2007 that had become #102 and #141.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #8, Louise #59.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Louise in 49.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Louise #5 in 1980.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Louise #213.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Louise in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Louise #44 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2017: Alma moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #529 and #415; by 2017 that had become #413 and #499.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Louise #816.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alma

Pairs where Alma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Louise

Pairs where Louise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alma, Louise
FieldAlmaLouise
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic, via French transmission
PronunciationNot yet recorded/lu.ˈiz/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #8 (2025)Norway · Girls #59 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Alma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alma and Louise both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Louise; Alma doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Alma

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Louise

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls