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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #234 and Louise #952 among girls in England and Wales.
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 143 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 Norway · Girls for 63 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #8 and #59.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alma held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Louise in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alma #228 in 2023, 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, 2024: Alma #234, Louise #952.
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 | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /lu.ˈiz/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Louise
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls