How Many People Are Named Pearl?
Complete statistics for the name Pearl: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Pearl means 'precious gem' and has a timeless charm. That's just 1 in 12,063 Americans who have this name, making it very rare indeed. With most people named Pearl being over 60, it definitely skews older.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life-path number 7 represents introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 103All 162,026 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1918Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Pearl Through the Generations
From its peak in 1918 when 4,622 babies were named Pearl, this classic name has seen a resurgence in recent years. Today, there are 27,357 people named Pearl living in the US, with 8,680 under 30, 4,909 aged 30-60, and 148,437 over 60. The majority of Pearls are now in their senior years, reflecting the name's historical popularity among older generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Pearl
Pearl is a unisex given name derived from the English word pearl, a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living, shelled mollusk. Pearls are commonly used in jewelry-making. The name has a history of usage among Jews. Pearl is used as an Anglicization of the Yiddish name Perle. Pearl is also a common Jewish surname. Usage of the name for girls may also have been inspired by the name Margaret, which means "pearl". Pearl came into wider popular use in the Anglosphere along with other gemstone names used for girls during the late Victorian Era.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Pearl's English roots
📄 About the Name Pearl
How Many People Have the Name Pearl?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 7,222 people in the United States currently share the name Pearl. That works out to roughly 1 in every 45,894 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Pearl a Common or Rare Name?
Pearl is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Pearl Mean?
Pearl means "precious gem" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Pearl in SSA data, approximately 2% are male and 98% are female.
When Was Pearl Most Popular?
The name Pearl reached peak popularity in 1918, with 4,622 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Pearl?
Approximately 7,222 people named Pearl live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 7,222. That works out to roughly 1 in 45,894 Americans.
Is Pearl a rare name?
Pearl is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 45,894 Americans has this name.
What does the name Pearl mean?
Pearl means "precious gem" and comes from English origins.
Is Pearl more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 2% of people named Pearl are male and 98% are female.
When was Pearl most popular?
Pearl peaked in 1918 with 4,622 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.