Is Pearl a boy's or girl's name?

Pearl is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 3,922 recorded births.

When was Pearl most popular?

Pearl reached its peak popularity in 1918 with 4,521 births that year. It is currently ranked #802 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Pearl?

Pearl is currently ranked #802 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 158,735 babies since 1880.

Pearl

A familiar Latin name with steady appeal.

Girl's name| Also boysLatinDeclining Also a pet name

#802▼ 2in 2024

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.

Compare Pearl with another name

Popularity Over Time

Pearl climbed 358 spots in the last 20 years — from #1160 to #802.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Pearl
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,819	#775	▼
2010s	4,159	#704	▲
2000s	2,238	#1066	▲
1990s	1,508	#1190	—
1980s	1,638	#961	▲
1970s	1,471	#918	▼
1960s	2,594	#640	▼
1950s	4,757	#407	▼
1940s	7,778	#252	▼
1930s	13,295	#161	▼
1920s	32,774	#87	—
1910s	33,834	#53	▲
1900s	20,913	#32	▲
1890s	19,054	#26	▲
1880s	10,903	#30	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Pearl
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	350	#802	-1 (-0.3%)
2023	351	#800	-31 (-8.1%)
2022	382	#756	-3 (-0.8%)
2021	385	#741	+34 (9.7%)
2020	351	#776	-36 (-9.3%)
2019	387	#729	-72 (-15.7%)
2018	459	#645	+4 (0.9%)
2017	455	#653	-94 (-17.1%)
2016	549	#567	+88 (19.1%)
2015	461	#624	+7 (1.5%)
2014	454	#629	+30 (7.1%)
2013	424	#673	+56 (15.2%)
2012	368	#755	+33 (9.9%)
2011	335	#807	+68 (25.5%)
2010	267	#961	-2 (-0.7%)
2009	269	#985	+10 (3.9%)
2008	259	#1017	-10 (-3.7%)
2007	269	#994	+24 (9.8%)
2006	245	#1048	+55 (28.9%)
2005	190	#1206	-6 (-3.1%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Pearl as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Pearl has also been given to 3,922 boys in the U.S. since 1880.

Unranked

Current rank

3,922

Total births

1918

Peak year

Compare Pearl as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Pearl be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Pearl is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #802. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Pearl has two lives

Pearl, the baby name

#802girls

158,735 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology