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.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 10,903 |
| 1890s | 19,054 |
| 1900s | 20,913 |
| 1910s | 33,834 |
| 1920s | 32,774 |
| 1930s | 13,295 |
| 1940s | 7,778 |
| 1950s | 4,757 |
| 1960s | 2,594 |
| 1970s | 1,471 |
| 1980s | 1,639 |
| 1990s | 1,508 |
| 2000s | 2,238 |
| 2010s | 4,160 |
| 2020s | 2,170 |
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.
“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
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.

