hi everyone,
am due in september and really love the name [name]Alma[/name] for our little girl. it’s a bit old fashioned but i can only think of calling her like this. I think it’s cute and quite uncommon. When i think of her, I think of her as [name]Alma[/name]…
We live in italy and I want a short international name that cannot be abbreviated.
My bofriend however, doesn’t like it at all…
Any tips on changing his mind or other similar names?
thanks!
I like [name]Alma[/name] very much. Names similar in feel… [name]Clara[/name], [name]Elisa[/name], [name]Mara[/name], [name]Lila[/name], [name]Dalia[/name], [name]Serena[/name], [name]Aurelia[/name], [name]Lucilla[/name]…
If he likes to read you can give him [name]Nicole[/name] Krauss’ The [name]History[/name] of [name]Love[/name]. It changed my mind about [name]Alma[/name].
Similar names that comes to mind: [name]Alba[/name] and [name]Alva[/name] (obvious I know, but they’re beautiful and work well in [name]Italia[/name])
thanks, nice names! i actually also have [name]Aurelia[/name] and [name]Dalia[/name] in my list but for now they jsut don’t sound like ‘my’ girl 
thanks ottilie, should try that , [name]History[/name] of love was the book that changed MY opinion about the name. Before it was just the name of my grandmother’s best friend 
What about [name]Bianca[/name]?
I quite like [name]Alma[/name]. It’s not my favorite name but it’s pretty feminine without frills and I like the shortness.(Yeah, The [name]History[/name] Of [name]Love[/name] came to mind).
But honestly, it’s not that international. I haven’t heard [name]Alma[/name] at all when I lived in [name]Russia[/name] and I guess it’s more popular in English- and Spahish-speaking areas.
My first thought was [name]Summer[/name] and Smoke though. I love Tenessee [name]William[/name]'s plays so it’s a plus for [name]Alma[/name]. Maybe I will even add it to my list someday:)
Similar-style names are [name]Alba[/name](I prefer [name]Albina[/name] nn [name]Alba[/name]), [name]Willa[/name], [name]Lucille[/name], [name]Helen/name, [name]Florence[/name] and [name]Sophie[/name].
yes [name]Bianca[/name] is also really sweet and no pronunciation issues. thanks!
yes [name]Alba[/name] is also sweet, but maybe i would prefer [name]Ambra[/name] in that case names like [name]Lucille[/name] wouldn’t work with an Italian person trying to pronounce them 
I think the problem with [name]Alma[/name] is that you don’t hear it often so it didn’t get rid of it’s old fashioned ring yet… I also like [name]Ada[/name] but already a girl we know was named like that …
[name]Alma[/name] is lovely. Stick with it and maybe it’ll grow on the boyf!
It is short and sweet, but keep in mind, it could be abbreviated to [name]Al[/name] or [name]Allie[/name].
Other options – [name]Ava[/name], [name]Eva[/name], [name]Ada[/name], [name]Alba[/name], [name]Ida[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Nora[/name], [name]Iris[/name].
Oops … sorry just read through properly, and [name]Ada[/name] and [name]Alba[/name] have both been suggested.
You could also consider [name]Almira[/name] or [name]Mira[/name].
[name]Ambra[/name] is cute but I personally prefer [name]Alma[/name]. I think the old-fashioned ring is charming.
thanks imogeneve! i like all the names you suggested except for eva and cora
In [name]Italy[/name] they would problably make it into [name]Almina[/name] (little [name]Alma[/name]) which i think is really cute, rather than shorten it…
I think it is actually quite pretty and I googled it’s meaning and it means kind and nourishing, and has been used as a feminine name for many years (but more popular many years ago than today so yes has more of an old vintage feel).
I am Mormon and in our scriptures “The Book of Mormon” there is actually a Book of [name]Alma[/name]. It was the name of an ancient prophet, who was an amazing man. So it has also been used in the past as a masculine name, although not as common as a feminine name I don’t think. I don’t think most people will have ever heard this name. However, if you ever meet any Mormons they will immediately think of an old male prophet
For other old fashioned names I too really like [name]Bianca[/name] and what about [name]Audrey[/name]? I had a great aunt named [name]Audrey[/name] and also who doesn’t love [name]Audrey[/name] Hepburn? Classic and elegant!
[name]Alma[/name] is beautiful! It’s one of our top names. It’s sweet, soft, and has a peaceful air about it.
You couldn’t go wrong with it!
Thanks for the feedback! I am happy to read you all actually like it. Yes bianca is lovely and [name]Audrey[/name] is nice too, thanks for the suggestions!
Still hope to convince my bf for [name]Alma[/name]! but making another list on the side!
I love [name]Alma[/name]. [name]Do[/name] you know what he doesn’t like about it? Is it too short? Or he doesn’t like the sound of it? For a similar sounding, longer name, what about [name]Amalia[/name]? Or for a different sounding, shorter name, I like the suggestions of [name]Eva[/name], [name]Ava[/name], [name]Ida[/name], [name]Alba[/name], etc.
he thinks it sounds old, plus there is a very rustic restaurant called like this where we live which doesn’t help
Actually funny you mention [name]Amalia[/name]. We both like [name]Amalia[/name] or [name]Amelia[/name] but it’s becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately I have big issues with popular names. Especially in [name]Italy[/name] where everyone of a certain age seems to be called the same name. (right now that is [name]Viola[/name], [name]Aurora[/name], [name]Sofia[/name] and [name]Nicole[/name]) they are not very creative even though they have gorgeous names that haven’t been used for ages… We both loved [name]Mia[/name] which was not widespread as in US or Uk yet, but since an italian moviestar called her baby like this, it’s been rocketing in the charts…
[name]Alma[/name] doesn’t run that risk yet… i hope!
Names with the same soft [name]Ah[/name]- sound
[name]Amalya[/name] / [name]Amalia[/name] (might be less popular with the y spelling?)
[name]Amaya[/name]
[name]Amara[/name]
[name]Amabel[/name]
[name]Anya[/name]
[name]Andra[/name]
Anouk
[name]Arya[/name] / [name]Aria[/name]
[name]Alameda[/name]
[name]Alondra[/name]
Oh [name]Alma[/name]! Such a perfect name. [name]Calm[/name], feminine but not at all fussy or frilly, dignified. What’s your boyfriend’s naming style? Has he made a list? Maybe finding a middle name that delights him or honors someone close to him would make him feel better about [name]Alma[/name].
Others from various styles that have a similar feeling:
[name]Amalia[/name]
[name]Amata[/name]
[name]Alida[/name]
[name]Orla[/name]
[name]Thalia[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Clea[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Thisbe[/name]
[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
Alodia
[name]Gwen[/name]
[name]Maude[/name]
[name]Mona[/name]