MallowbyNames

Pearl

PURL · A precious gem formed within oysters, symbolizing purity and rarity.

2025 rank (girls)
#776
Babies named in 2025
350
Peak popularity
1890
2025 frequency
1 in 4,592 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Declining since 2017

Declining since 2017, #776 for girls today.

Popularity of Pearl since 1880

Babies named Pearl per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pearl's real moment was 1890.

1.5k3k4.5k1880192019602000Most births 1918Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s10,903
1890s19,054
1900s20,913
1910s33,834
1920s32,774
1930s13,295
1940s7,778
1950s4,757
1960s2,594
1970s1,471
1980s1,639
1990s1,508
2000s2,238
2010s4,160
2020s2,170

Meaning & origin

Pearl is a name that has experienced fluctuating popularity since it first appeared in U.S. records in 1880. It reached its peak rank of 1 in 1890, making it one of the most popular names of that decade. Since then, its usage has generally declined, and it has been on a falling trajectory since 2017. In 2025, it sits at rank 776, with approximately 1 in 4,592 girls receiving the name. The name has historically been favored in states like Idaho, New York, and Oregon. Pearl's enduring appeal lies in its simplicity and connection to a natural gem, making it a classic choice for parents seeking a vintage-inspired name.

The name Pearl is taken directly from the English word for the gem, which derives from Old French 'perle' and ultimately Latin 'perna' (leg, ham), referring to a type of shellfish. Pearl has been in use as a given name since the late 19th century, peaking in popularity around the 1890s in the United States.

Where Pearl is most popular

Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few births

Pearl” around the world

Where Pearl lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    5

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    15

    babies in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Perrie, Pea

Variants: Pearle, Perle

Sibling names for Pearl

Names that share Pearl's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Ruby, Opal, Jade, Ivy, Hazel, Blanche, Erma, Eula, Hattie, Imogene, Jewel, June, Laurel, Mavis, Muriel, Myra, Myrtle, Olive, Rosalie, Verna, Adell, Beryl, Birdie, Blythe, Bulah, Coral, Emerald, Floy, Glenna, Iris, Ivey, Ivory, Jewell, Larue, Leatha, Lenore, Leta, Lux, Maybelle, Nelle, Roxie, Rubi, Rubie, Rubye, Rue, Serene, Syble, Verda, Zella, Allean, Amethyst, Beaulah, Bell, Buelah, Cleda, Cordia, Cordie, Crysta, Dot, Dove, Dreama, Dymond, Earlean, Eartha, Erie, Fae, France, Gertha, Grayce, Hazle, Ivery, Lady, Lemon, Maybell, Myrl, Myrle, Nonie, Onie, Reatha, Rella, Sapphire, Silver, Alayne, Apple, Beryle, Beula, Bula, Byrdie, Ceil, Clella, Clyda, Corean, Crystall, Dallie, Daphane, Diamon, Dicie, Dyamond, Eathel, Elner, Ermine, Estes, Ferol, Gaile, Garnetta, Garnette, Girl, Hasel, Idelle, Ivorie, Jewelz, Koral, Laural, Lorane, Marda, Maurie, Maybel, Mintie, Mirtha, Monie, Myrta, Nance, Neita, Nobie, Omie, Onalee, Orlean, Parlee, Pearley, Pebbles, Pecola, Perlie, Pluma, Reola, Rheba, Rosebud, Rubbie, Ruie, Saphire, Sayde, Shelvy, Ura, Vadie, Violett, Wanza, Albirta, Alean, Arkie, Cliffie, Clotee, Cybil, Dimond, Ellon, Evamae, Evva, Exa, Floriene, Gloris, Goldia, Goldy, Inetta, Jeweline, Jewelle, Jewels, Junnie, Leita, Lether, Mare, Mazelle, Merrit, Modell, Monda, Odeal, Opaline, Opel, Ople, Pairlee, Pearlee, Reida, Rilda, Rosene, Rubby, Rubee, Rubyann, Shell, Sherma, Topaz, Wreatha, Wrenna, Wretha, Clytee, Earlee, Oza, Boots, Charl, Dearie, Diamonds, Dovey, Eddis, Ermel, Etoy, Fayne, Foye, Freada, Gem, Goldye, Jenet, Lil, Linnell, Loella, Luceil, Marg, Mayre, Merriel, Murdis, Myrel, Rubylee, Salice, Saphyre, Sible, Sybol, Sylver, Therma, Unice, Vear, Verdine, Verneal, Wavie

Brothers: Jasper, Jade, Onyx, Garnet, Miles, Clyde, Earl, Ernest, Floyd, Leland, Wade, Acie, Aleck, Alford, Artie, Boone, Burl, Buster, Carver, Chet, Cletis, Cletus, Cliff, Coy, Delmar, Delmer, Delwin, Drexel, Early, Ervin, Gale, Garland, Garnett, Golden, Gus, Hank, Hoyt, Ike, Judd, Kermit, Laroy, Little, Loyd, Lue, Marland, Marlin, Mearl, Orval, Otha, Otis, Rance, Thurman, Van, Vern, Wiley, Ansel, Arch, Arley, Arliss, Arlon, Arnett, Arvel, Boyce, Buck, Cleophus, Cloyd, Coley, Delton, Doc, Dutch, Earlie, Elder, Faron, Foy, Gaines, Garner, Glenwood, Haskell, Herb, Jimi, Kemp, Ladd, Leeroy, Lem, Loring, Loy, Mace, Manley, Mercer, Merl, Montie, Murl, Niles, Obie, Oral, Orland, Park, Parnell, Reno, Rolla, Rosevelt, Roswell, Verl, Webb, Yancey, Young, Aldean, Almond, Arnel, Ballard, Beauford, Bland, Buel, Byrd, Byrl, Carrel, Chancy, Clide, Cloyce, Conard, Corda, Curlee, Curvin, Dashel, Deforest, Dodge, Dow, Doy, Earley, Elmon, Estle, French, Gaither, Garlin, Gates, Handy, Harless, Haynes, Hill, Hobson, Hoke, Hoy, Hoyle, Irven, Jb, Jearl, Jessup, Jud, Lang, Lenton, Lonzie, Luster, Lysle, Meade, Moe, Mont, Murel, Murle, Newt, Norvel, Obert, Ollis, Opie, Orange, Oree, Orren, Orvel, Orvin, Othel, Oval, Pasco, Polo, Purvis, Quill, Quince, Raeford, Reymond, Rockey, Spence, Tevis, Tosh, Udell, Vearl, Vestal, Wolfe, Woodford, Addis, Alvy, Arby, Artice, Audy, Barnes, Bernal, Birl, Birt, Burk, Bynum, Carthel, Caswell, Cleston, Clete, Clif, Comer, Commodore, Doak, Duel, Eldin, Ersel, Ervey, Ervie, Filmore, Gearl, Hamp, Harlis, Harvel, Harwood, Hassell, Hearl, Hersey, Huel, Hyland, Irl, Irvan, Jabe, Kizer, Klyde, Lindel, Loel, Loman, Lytle, Mandell, Mansel, Merrel, Miner, Odies, Okey, Onis, Orlie, Orlyn, Percell, Press, Rahn, Raynor, Rollan, Ruble, Shep, Talton, Trampus, Verlan, Vermon, Warden, Wirt, Woodard, Bearl, Burel, Garl, Herny, Hulan, Merlon, Allin, Aulton, Berley, Bonner, Brace, Burch, Burris, Buryl, Cap, Chaunce, Chevis, Claron, Cleburn, Cloy, Coyt, Culver, Curly, Dewell, Dodd, Doren, Doye, Duell, Earmon, Elby, Elford, Fairley, Farmer, Floyde, Fount, Fountain, Garlen, Goble, Governor, Harl, Herley, Holbert, Hoyte, Hy, Idus, Ikey, Juell, Loomis, Mancil, Marl, Marvon, Mead, Mearle, Meril, Mirl, Mort, Narvel, Oley, Oney, Ordean, Orvie, Osby, Plez, Pratt, Rawson, Rector, Robey, Seaton, Stanlee, Trice, Twain, Velton, Wing, Woodruff, Wyley

Names like Pearl

Names whose popularity has moved with Pearl's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

P is for Pearl, our favorite little girl.

P is for Pearl…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Pearl's letter becomes Pearl's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Pearl's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Pearl mean?
Pearl means the precious gem produced by oysters, symbolizing purity and beauty.
How popular is the name Pearl today?
As of 2025, Pearl ranked 776th in the United States, with a 1-in-4592 chance of a newborn girl being named Pearl.
Is Pearl a boy or girl name?
Pearl is almost exclusively used for girls, though it has occasionally been used for boys in history.