Find out how popular the first name Pearl has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Pearl by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Pearl is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Pearl being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 345 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Pearl.

The history of the first name Pearl

The name Pearl is an English word derived from the Old French word "perle", which in turn comes from the Latin word "perna" meaning a sea creature from which pearls were harvested. The name became popular in the 16th century, likely inspired by the admiration for the beauty and rarity of pearls as gemstones.

Pearls have been highly valued throughout history, and the name Pearl has been used as a metaphor for something precious and beautiful. In the Bible, pearls are mentioned as a symbol of great value in the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price from the Gospel of Matthew.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Pearl dates back to the late 16th century. Pearl Curwen was an English woman born in 1585 who was accused of witchcraft during the infamous witch trials in Pendle, Lancashire.

Another notable historical figure with the name Pearl was Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), an American writer and novelist who was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 for her novels about life in China.

Pearl White (1889-1938) was an American actress who starred in early 20th century silent film serials and is regarded as one of the first major American film stars.

Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) was an American actress, singer, and author, best known for her performances on stage and in films, including the 1967 film "Valley of the Dolls".

Pearl Primus (1919-1994) was an American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist who played a significant role in the development of modern dance and in introducing African and Caribbean dance forms to American audiences.

Pearl Jam, formed in 1990, is an American rock band that took their name as a tribute to the Pearl Baker peyote joke from the 1976 satirical novel "Cynthia Clegg" by Obadiah Hart.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Pearl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pearl, please contact us.

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