Pearl
Pearl is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Pearl (the precious gemstone).
Origin and history
Pearl is an English virtue and gemstone name derived from the word for the precious organic gem formed within mollusks. While predominantly given to females in modern times, it saw historic usage as a masculine given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Today, masculine usage of the name in the U.S. is extremely rare.
Popularity in the United States
3,922 babies in the United States have been named Pearl since 1880. It ranks #2032 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- KY (39.4 %)
- OH (35.5 %)
- NC (6.7 %)
- MO (4.3 %)
- IL (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 604 |
| 1890-1900 | 429 |
| 1900-1910 | 357 |
| 1910-1920 | 686 |
| 1920-1930 | 796 |
| 1930-1940 | 497 |
| 1940-1950 | 282 |
| 1950-1960 | 158 |
| 1960-1970 | 68 |
| 1970-1980 | 34 |
| 1980-1990 | 11 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Pearl
- Pearl Zane Grey: Author, Novelist
- Pearl Bailey: Singer, Actress
Fun facts
- In the late 19th century, Pearl was routinely given to boys in the United States, reaching the top 300 names for males in the 1880s.
- The English word pearl comes from Late Latin 'perla', possibly derived from the Latin word 'perna' meaning a type of sea mussel.