Meaning & Origin
A unisex given name from English. A female given name from English. A male given name from English.
Pearl is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin perla meaning the gemstone 'pearl' — long a symbol of purity, wisdom, and hidden beauty. It belongs to the Victorian tradition of naming girls after precious stones and natural treasures.
Pearl was a top-50 name in America around 1900 and is now experiencing a genuine revival alongside Ruby and Opal. Author Pearl S. Buck, who won both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes, gave the name serious literary credentials. Short, lustrous, and unexpectedly modern — Pearl is having a quiet moment.