Perlean
Of Latin origin meaning "little pearl" or "pearl-like".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Perlean. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Perlean today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Perlean births was 1915 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Perlean. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Perlean is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Perleans were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Perlean. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1915
5 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1946 SSA rank
#5,526
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Perlean: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Perlean from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Perlean 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 Perlean during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Perlean
The name Perlean has its origins in the French language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "perle," which means "pearl." The name's earliest recorded use dates back to the 13th century, when it was given to children born into noble families in regions of what is now northern France.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear this name was Perlean de Montfort, a noblewoman who lived in the late 12th century. She was a member of the prominent House of Montfort and played a role in the political intrigues of her time. Unfortunately, detailed records of her life have been lost to history.
In the 15th century, a Perlean de Valois was recorded as a courtier in the royal court of King Charles VII of France. She was known for her beauty and charm, which earned her the nickname "The Pearl of the Court." However, little else is known about her life and accomplishments.
During the Renaissance period, Perlean de Châteauneuf (1525-1597) was a notable French poet and patron of the arts. Her works celebrated the beauty of nature and the human spirit, and she was highly regarded in literary circles of the time.
Moving into the 17th century, Perlean du Bois (1612-1685) was a French botanist and herbalist. She made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants and their uses, and her work was widely respected among her contemporaries.
Finally, in the 19th century, Perlean Delacroix (1819-1890) was a French painter renowned for her landscapes and portraiture. She studied under the tutelage of the famous artist Eugène Delacroix and gained recognition for her masterful use of color and light.
Throughout its history, the name Perlean has been associated with nobility, beauty, and intellectual pursuits. While it has fallen out of common usage in recent times, it remains a unique and evocative choice, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage.
People
Perlean + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Perlean 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
Perlean: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Perlean?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Perlean 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Perlean a common name?
We classify Perlean as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 25 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Perlean most popular?
The single biggest year for Perlean was 1915, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Perlean is about 87 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Perlean a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Perlean 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.