Pearl

#776 for girls in 2025, 350 births · Last seen for boys in 1983 at #6,238
Given to girls 97.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1900 · 2,512 births
Debut · girls
569 births
In top 100 · girls
47 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
159,088
since 1880

Pearl over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201950peak #24, 1900girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#776350—
2024#801351—
2023#800351—
2022#754382—
2021#740385—
2020#776351—
2019#729387—
2018#644460—
2017#651455—
2016#567549—
2015#624461—
2014#629454—
2013#672424—
2012#755368—
2011#806335—
2010#960267—
2009#983269—
2008#1,016259—
2007#991269—
2006#1,045245—
2005#1,203190—
2004#1,152196—
2003#1,084203—
2002#1,068199—
2001#1,035208—
2000#1,046200—
1999#1,191162—
1998#1,150164—
1997#1,273138—
1996#1,056175—
1995#1,113159—
1994#1,346124—
1993#1,138156—
1992#1,126157—
1991#1,215142—
1990#1,253131—
1989#1,168140—
1988#1,066148—
1987#1,081141—
1986#973162—
1985#945165—
1984#887169—
1983#880172#6,2385
1982#824190—
1981#846184—
1980#900168#5,5256
1979#995143—
1978#1,031132—
1977#1,062123#4,5827
1976#917143#4,9356
1975#891148—
1974#876148—
1973#882142#4,5056
1972#804168#4,4416
1971#842163#3,3709
1970#840161—
1969#876143#4,4045
1968#757172—
1967#738175#2,7609
1966#701195#2,32712
1965#596259#2,9828
1964#587284#2,66510
1963#590284#3,3187
1962#509364—
1961#524346#2,70610
1960#505372#3,3377
1959#518350#2,53011
1958#483388#2,26513
1957#447443#1,88718
1956#420468#2,01516
1955#405465#1,48327
1954#388492#1,95616
1953#375516#1,90017
1952#363516#2,25112
1951#347531#2,49510
1950#320588#1,74618
1949#323575#1,66720
1948#290690#1,70319
1947#293713#1,31631
1946#284677#1,50922
1945#265654#1,27027
1944#238756#1,23529
1943#223879#1,01843
1942#1911,092#1,03642
1941#211835#1,53220
1940#197907#1,25129
1939#197902#86750
1938#1891,005#95144
1937#1871,024#93245
1936#1721,120#98940
1935#1671,187#85853
1934#1541,338#1,05938
1933#1431,384#87550
1932#1381,618#98045
1931#1371,648#77565
1930#1212,069#78267
1929#1142,172#73473
1928#1102,367#70281
1927#1022,718#72680
1926#962,899#76571
1925#903,213#80168
1924#783,635#71685
1923#783,543#71183
1922#713,848#74878
1921#654,175#69886
1920#624,204#66791
1919#564,273#61298
1918#564,521#611101
1917#574,232#65084
1916#574,073#71570
1915#563,976#57697
1914#563,223#67357
1913#552,756#51370
1912#542,528#55253
1911#482,075#51433
1910#392,177#59823
1909#402,048#37141
1908#392,075#38936
1907#352,108#36637
1906#352,035#35534
1905#312,108#39329
1904#302,015#36830
1903#272,046#31236
1902#282,100#33135
1901#311,866#27738
1900#242,512#33741
1899#271,999#33129
1898#262,158#29839
1897#252,076#26344
1896#252,101#30637
1895#261,958#26645
1894#281,789#23155
1893#261,796#21962
1892#261,831#29239
1891#271,605#29731
1890#241,741#24348
1889#241,588#22950
1888#261,591#21269
1887#251,316#19164
1886#291,204#18273
1885#261,146#21257
1884#251,138#20962
1883#29886#20057
1882#33824#21558
1881#38641#21152
1880#47569#19662
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Pearl was already there! It came in at #47, and was given to 569 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1967–1981, when fewer than 190 girls a year got the name.

Where Pearl is popular in 1950

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedAKMaine: #210 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,486 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedMNIllinois: #335 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 3,624 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedWIMichigan: #425 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 5,631 girlsMINew York: #297 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 2,800 girlsNYMassachusetts: #314 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,905 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #216 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,444 girlsSDIowa: #310 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,463 girlsIAIndiana: #470 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,977 girlsINOhio: #501 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 8,514 girlsOHPennsylvania: #229 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 2,005 girlsPANew Jersey: #323 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,911 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #366 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 3,339 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedUTColorado: #339 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,906 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedNEMissouri: #327 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,578 girlsMOKentucky: #251 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,097 girlsKYWest Virginia: #257 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,083 girlsWVVirginia: #199 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,206 girlsVAMaryland: #235 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,901 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedDEArizona: #213 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,002 girlsAZNew Mexico: #192 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 905 girlsNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedKSArkansas: #229 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,423 girlsARTennessee: #306 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,823 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #282 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 2,099 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #185 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 891 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Pearl, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #235 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,665 girlsOKLouisiana: #248 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,417 girlsLAMississippi: #234 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,288 girlsMSAlabama: #488 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,136 girlsALGeorgia: #316 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,616 girlsGAHawaii: #116 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 410 girlsHITexas: #419 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 3,418 girlsTXFlorida: #328 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,572 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#116 · 1 in 410
  2. South Carolina#185 · 1 in 891
  3. New Mexico#192 · 1 in 905
  4. Virginia#199 · 1 in 1,206
  5. Maine#210 · 1 in 1,486

Best ever in a state: #13 in Wyoming, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#116131 in 410
South Carolina#185311 in 891
New Mexico#192101 in 905
Virginia#199291 in 1,206
Maine#21061 in 1,486
Arizona#21391 in 1,002
South Dakota#21651 in 1,444
Arkansas#229151 in 1,423
Pennsylvania#229511 in 2,005
Mississippi#234221 in 1,288
Maryland#235121 in 1,901
Oklahoma#235131 in 1,665
Louisiana#248241 in 1,417
Kentucky#251161 in 2,097
West Virginia#257111 in 2,083
North Carolina#282231 in 2,099
New York#297511 in 2,800
Tennessee#306131 in 2,823
Iowa#31081 in 3,463
Massachusetts#31491 in 4,905
Georgia#316161 in 2,616
New Jersey#323111 in 3,911
Missouri#327111 in 3,578
Florida#328111 in 2,572
Illinois#335241 in 3,624
Colorado#33951 in 2,906
California#366341 in 3,339
Texas#419281 in 3,418
Michigan#425131 in 5,631
Indiana#47061 in 6,977
Alabama#48861 in 6,136
Ohio#501101 in 8,514
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Pearl
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 25 spots since 2024 (#801 → #776)
  • Same as 2020 (#776)
  • 152 spots since 2015 (#624 → #776)
  • Biggest jump: 154 spots in 2011 (#960 → #806)
  • Biggest drop: 145 spots in 1977 (#917 → #1,062)
Rise & fade · girls
20 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1900 at #24 (2,512 births)
  • Births halved by 1935, 35 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 47 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 47 yrs · run 1880–1926
  • Top 1,000: 123 yrs · run 1880–1976
Share of babies · girls
1 in 109
  • Highest: 1 in 109 girls born in 1890 were named Pearl (0.91%)
  • Latest: 1 in 4,592 girls born in 2025 (0.02%)
  • Its best rank, #24 in 1900, was only 1 in 119 (0.84%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1910s
  • 21.3% of all girls named Pearl (33,834) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s10,903#24 (1889)#30
1890s19,054#24 (1890)#26
1900s20,913#24 (1900)#32
1910s33,834#39 (1910)#53
1920s32,774#62 (1920)#87
1930s13,295#121 (1930)#161
1940s7,778#191 (1942)#252
1950s4,757#320 (1950)#407
1960s2,594#505 (1960)#638
1970s1,471#804 (1972)#914
1980s1,639#824 (1982)#957
1990s1,508#1,056 (1996)#1,186
2000s2,238#983 (2009)#1,062
2010s4,160#567 (2016)#704
2020s2,170#740 (2021)#775

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Pearl in 1950

girls
#320
588 births · 1 in 2,913 girls
boys
#1,746
18 births · 1 in 99,459 boys

Top girls' names in 1950

  1. #1Linda80,433
  2. #2Mary65,481
  3. #3Patricia47,944
  4. #4Barbara41,556
  5. #5Susan38,017
  6. #6Nancy29,617
  7. #7Deborah29,063
  8. #8Sandra28,896
  9. #9Carol26,163
  10. #10Kathleen25,706
  11. #320Pearl588

Top boys' names in 1950

  1. #1James86,228
  2. #2Robert83,553
  3. #3John79,412
  4. #4Michael65,136
  5. #5David60,729
  6. #6William60,680
  7. #7Richard51,003
  8. #8Thomas45,596
  9. #9Charles39,095
  10. #10Gary33,737
  11. #1,746Pearl18
More about 1950

girls

1,713,054 girls got a published name in 1950; 1 in 2,913 of them was named Pearl, which outranked 94.8% of the 6,109 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Pearl
  1. #317Glenna600
  2. #318Jayne595
  3. #319Karla592
  4. #320Pearl588
  5. #321Rosalind571
  6. #322Jenny569
  7. #323Darla567
Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,242Mindy#2,013 → #771
  2. ↑ 649Geralyn#1,627 → #978
  3. ↑ 636Kyle#1,512 → #876
  4. ↑ 416Debrah#1,109 → #693
  5. ↑ 405Debbra#1,353 → #948
Fallers
  1. ↓ 241Luana#823 → #1,064
  2. ↓ 231Christene#930 → #1,161
  3. ↓ 216Pearline#785 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 210Ingrid#518 → #728
  5. ↓ 201Dayle#982 → #1,183

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,790,262 boys got a published name in 1950; 1 in 99,459 of them was named Pearl, which outranked 58.4% of the 4,196 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Pearl
  1. #1,701Webb19
  2. #1,701Wellington19
  3. #1,701Wheeler19
  4. #1,746Pearl18
  5. #1,746Adrien18
  6. #1,746Alexis18
  7. #1,746Augusta18
  8. #1,815Alpha17
  9. #1,815Archibald17
  10. #1,815Arlis17

Tied with 68 names at #1,746; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 744Ezzard#1,616 → #872
  2. ↑ 510Kelvin#1,085 → #575
  3. ↑ 447Nancy#1,297 → #850
  4. ↑ 420Samual#1,380 → #960
  5. ↑ 376Shaun#1,275 → #899
Fallers
  1. ↓ 371Sharon#885 → #1,256
  2. ↓ 369Melvyn#770 → #1,139
  3. ↓ 367Les#997 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 351Delmas#905 → #1,256
  5. ↓ 315Denzil#808 → #1,123

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1950 →