Declining since 2004, #1,587 for girls today.
Popularity of Perla since 1918
Babies named Perla per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 |
| 1920s | 49 |
| 1930s | 51 |
| 1940s | 63 |
| 1950s | 150 |
| 1960s | 279 |
| 1970s | 776 |
| 1980s | 1,991 |
| 1990s | 4,586 |
| 2000s | 7,485 |
| 2010s | 4,203 |
| 2020s | 1,166 |
Meaning & origin
Perla, meaning 'pearl,' has been used in the United States since at least 1918, when it was first recorded. Its popularity peaked in 2003, but since 2004 it has been steadily declining. In 2025, it ranked 1587th, with 1 in 12,176 baby girls receiving the name. The name is most common in Texas, Virginia, and California, reflecting its strong Hispanic heritage. While its trajectory is falling, Perla remains a choice that connects to natural beauty and cultural roots.
Perla is the Spanish and Italian word for 'pearl,' derived from the Latin 'perna' (a type of shellfish) or directly from the Old French 'perle.' It was used as a given name in medieval Europe, often in reference to the pearl's symbolic purity and beauty. The name gained popularity in Spanish-speaking communities and has been used in the United States since the early 20th century.
Where Perla 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.
“Perla” around the world
Where Perla lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Perl, Perly, La Perla
Sibling names for Perla
Names that share Perla's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Perla
Names whose popularity has moved with Perla's over the last 50 years.
