Pearla
From the Latin word for "pearl", a precious gem.
Name Census estimates that about 450 living Americans carry the first name Pearla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pearla today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pearla births was 2006 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pearla. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
450
~ 1 in 761,676 Americans
Peak year
2006
25 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,807
Tracked since 1883
Popularity
Pearla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pearla from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 134 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pearla by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Pearla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pearlas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Pearla
The name Pearla is derived from the English word "pearl," which has its roots in the Latin word "perna," meaning "leg" or "hinged shell." The pearl, a highly prized gemstone, was formed within the shell of certain mollusks and was therefore associated with the hinged shells from which it emerged.
The name Pearla likely gained popularity during the Middle Ages, a time when pearls were highly coveted and symbolized purity, innocence, and wealth. It was commonly used as a given name in English-speaking regions, particularly in Europe and North America.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pearla can be found in the 16th century, when Pearla Whetenhall, an English noblewoman, was mentioned in historical records from 1542. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of the poor in her community.
In the 17th century, Pearla van der Merwe, a Dutch settler in South Africa, was born in 1678. She played a significant role in the establishment of the Cape Colony and is remembered for her contributions to the development of the region.
Another notable figure bearing the name Pearla was Pearla Parker Pratt, an American suffragist and women's rights activist born in 1838. She was a prominent advocate for women's suffrage and worked tirelessly to secure the right to vote for women in the United States.
In the 19th century, Pearla Hicks, an American artist and painter, was born in 1865. She was known for her vivid and colorful landscapes, and her works are displayed in several art galleries across the United States.
Lastly, Pearla Negri, an Italian opera singer, was born in 1892. She gained international acclaim for her performances in various operas, particularly those composed by Verdi and Puccini, and is considered one of the most renowned sopranos of her time.
While the name Pearla may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a beautiful and unique name with a rich historical background, reflecting the value and beauty associated with pearls throughout the centuries.
People
Pearla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pearla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pearla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pearla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 450 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pearla going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 761,676 US residents.
Is Pearla a common name?
We classify Pearla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 552 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pearla most popular?
The single biggest year for Pearla was 2006, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pearla is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pearla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pearla in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.