Pearl
How to say it: PURL · /ˈpɜrl/
From the English word for the gemstone pearl, ultimately from Old French 'perle'; symbolic of purity and value.
Pearl was the 736th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 350 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are down about 24% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #804 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #736 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 350 |
| Share of births | 1 in 9,472 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −24% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #804 |
| In France, 2025 | #667 among girls’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Far removed from its height in the 1890s, Pearl has dwindled over time. Sitting far below peak, it is expected to soften further.
What goes with it
Small and luminous in one syllable, Pearl unites soft and crisp tones with gentle calm. Ruby shines in the same style.
Nicknames
- Pearlie
Other spellings
Honouring a Pearl in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Pearl is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #667 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #258. Ireland: #288.
Famous people named Pearl
- Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973)Chinese women Nobel Prize winner, author, teacher, missionary
- Pearl Bailey (1918–1990)American actress and singer
- Pearl Mackie (born 1987)British actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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