Fun Facts About the Name Alima
- 495 babies named Alima: U.S. records list 495 babies given the name Alima from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Alima Mean?
Alima is an Arabic feminine name meaning "learned woman" or "knowledgeable." It comes from the Arabic root ʿ-l-m (ع-ل-م), which is connected with knowing and knowledge. The name is the feminine form of ʿalīm (عليم), an intensive adjective meaning "knowing" or "well-informed"; the same root gives ʿālim (عالم), "learned man" or "scholar," and ʿālima (عالمة), "learned woman." Its sense is descriptive rather than symbolic. It is not a form of the similar-looking Halima, which comes from a different Arabic root.
Alima Name History & Origins
Arabic names often come from ordinary words, and Alima belongs to that pattern. The root ʿ-l-m is one of the basic Arabic roots for knowledge; the divine name al-ʿAlīm, "the All-Knowing," is built from the same adjective that gives the feminine ʿalīma. The name is formed with the feminine ending -a, and its masculine counterpart is Alim. It is used in Arabic-speaking countries and by Muslim families in parts of Africa and Asia. The spelling varies in English - Alima, Alimah, and Aleema all occur - but these are transliterations of the same Arabic name rather than separate origins.
How Popular is the Name Alima?
Alima has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2018. Its best rank was #5,160 in 2018.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,337 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #5,434 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2023 | #6,681 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #6,998 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #5,961 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #5,670 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #5,995 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #5,160 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2017 | #7,105 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #7,622 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #6,248 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #8,072 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #9,640 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #7,473 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #10,422 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #7,232 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #10,009 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #7,092 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #8,123 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #7,501 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #6,833 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #11,675 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,071 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #12,247 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #13,583 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #9,919 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #7,741 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #8,616 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #10,891 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #8,169 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #11,834 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #6,665 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #12,420 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #11,357 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #9,169 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,424 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #9,784 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #8,464 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #9,316 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Alima Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Alima's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Alima's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.