Pearl Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Pearl originates from the Latin word 'perla', meaning precious gem. It has evolved through Old English and Middle English forms to its modern usage today. The name symbolizes beauty and rarity, with no direct biblical significance. It gained popularity in the late 19th century and remains a vintage yet elegant choice today.
The name Pearl is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Pearl has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Pearl' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 622nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 945th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2091st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4771st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 58th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 169th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 423rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 839th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1086th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1047th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 693rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Pearl' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Pearl"
Pronunciation
/pɜrl/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name 'Pearl' is derived from the Latin word 'perla', which refers to the precious gem formed within the shells of certain mollusks. The association of pearls with beauty and value contributes to the name's popularity.
Meaning
precious gem, beauty
Language Evolution
Old English: pearle, Middle English: perle, Modern English: Pearl
Historical Usage
The name Pearl gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries, partly due to its use in literature and its association with rarity and beauty.
Variants & Derivatives
Perla, Pearly
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Pearl is perceived as vintage and elegant, often associated with sophistication and a sense of timeless beauty.
Famous People
Pearl S. Buck, an American author and Nobel laureate, Pearl Bailey, an American actress and singer
Explore More Pearl Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Pearl"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Pearl"
"Pearl" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 622nd of 7545 | 1,644 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 945th of 6773 | 841 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2091st of 7552 | 284 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4771st of 10718 | 74 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 58th of 9107 | 80,470 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 169th of 9204 | 22,957 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 423rd of 12526 | 9,062 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 839th of 19264 | 2,583 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1086th of 27321 | 2,514 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1047th of 35406 | 3,672 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 693rd of 30306 | 5,008 |
Regional Popularity of "Pearl" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
32.27% 457th/1416 |
- |
29.59% 700th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
40.17% 621st/1546 |
- |
36.97% 870th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
50.88% 1133rd/2227 |
- |
54.33% 1550th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- |
60.83% 2140th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Pearl" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
5.08% 72nd/1416 |
4.64% 64th/1379 |
2.54% 60th/2366 |
7.09% 81st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
11.38% 176th/1546 |
9.38% 146th/1556 |
6.71% 158th/2353 |
12.41% 192nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
22.36% 498th/2227 |
15.64% 380th/2430 |
13.42% 383rd/2853 |
14.38% 399th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
36.36% 1068th/2937 |
21.65% 754th/3483 |
27.80% 978th/3518 |
17.36% 702nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
46.11% 1699th/3685 |
18.08% 809th/4475 |
25.41% 1320th/5194 |
13.23% 836th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
26.56% 1217th/4582 |
14.41% 744th/5164 |
21.67% 1585th/7313 |
11.11% 829th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
16.09% 641st/3984 |
11.54% 518th/4487 |
14.98% 1022nd/6822 |
9.16% 575th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Pearl"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Pearl" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.