Alma vs Zainab
Alma and Zainabcompared 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 2024, Alma was ranked #8 and Zainab #445 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Zainab #128 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Zainab #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #315 and Zainab #275 among girls in Scotland.
Alma and Zainab over time
Alma and Zainab appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Zainab held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alma and Zainab changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1957 and 2024, ending at #8 and #445.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Zainab were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #211 and #128.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Alma #5 in 2023, Zainab #250 in 2023.
List by list
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1957–2024
Alma held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Zainab in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Zainab #250 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alma #8, Zainab #445.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zainab in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Zainab #125 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Zainab #128.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1999–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Zainab in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alma #213 in 2024, Zainab #273 in 2025.
The order changed in 2024: Alma moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #625 and #495; by 2024 that had become #213 and #441.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Zainab #273.
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.
- Heidi vs Alma
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #188 and #293 in 1945 to #437 and #8 in 2025.
Heidi · Alma · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Kristin
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #293 and #130 in 1945 to #8 and #251 in 2025.
Alma · Kristin · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Solveig
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #293 and #14 in 1945 to #8 and #28 in 2025.
Alma · Solveig · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Hanne
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Hanne fell — from #293 and #123 in 1945 to #8 and #318 in 2025.
Alma · Hanne · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alma | Zainab |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #128 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma and Zainab both have 2 syllables.
- 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 #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Zainab
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #469 among girls in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #125 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #128 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls