Girl name · Latin
Pearl
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: precious gem from the seaPearl is a girl's name that comes from Latin and means "precious gem from the sea". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Precious gem from the sea
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #777 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Pearl
As a girl's name, Pearl comes from Latin and means "precious gem from the sea". It is used in English.
Pearl is also a surname: the 4,750th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 7,222 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Pearl on our names that mean water or sea list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Pearl on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Pearl on 8 lists.
“A sea gem, and the twin of Pokémon Diamond”
From Empoleon nicknames, penguin, sea and ice names
“A gem of a name for a white goose”
From Porch goose names, girl porch goose names
“A classic gem for a cat with a soft, pale coat”
From Female cat names, vintage girl cat names
“Gem formed in an oyster; English. Classic and lustrous”
From Girl middle names, gem and celestial middle names
“Lustrous and pale, for a cremello or perlino”
From Horse names, horse names by coat color and markings
“Named the world's shortest living dog by Guinness in 2023”
From Taco Bell chihuahua name, taco Bell chihuahua name and famous chihuahuas
“A gem formed in a shell; English, a vintage favorite”
From Ocean names, pearl and seashell names
“Precious gem from the sea; Latin. June's birthstone”
From Vintage girl names, vintage flower, plant and gemstone names
How popular is Pearl?
- US rank in 2025
- #777
- 350 babies, 218 per million girls
- Best rank
- #24 in 1889
- Most babies: 4,521 in 1918
- Babies since 1880
- At least 159,088
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 8,306 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 8,577 per million |
| 1900s | 7,144 per million |
| 1910s | 4,148 per million |
| 1920s | 2,742 per million |
| 1930s | 1,247 per million |
| 1940s | 537 per million |
| 1950s | 247 per million |
| 1960s | 142 per million |
| 1970s | 95 per million |
| 1980s | 95 per million |
| 1990s | 84 per million |
| 2000s | 121 per million |
| 2010s | 238 per million |
| 2020s | 223 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #567 | #653 | #645 | #730 | #777 | #742 | #756 | #800 | #804 | #777 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Pearl
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- MurielBright sea (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- MiraPeace, from Slavic Mir- names; in Sanskrit, sea (Slavic, girl)
- CoralReef stone of the sea (Greek, girl)
- DaryaHolding firm the good; also sea in Persian (Persian, girl)
- GemmaGem, precious stone (Latin, girl)
- KaiThe sea (Hawaiian, unisex)
- MarinoOf the sea (Latin, boy)
- MaristelaStar of the sea (Latin, girl)
- MurchadhSea warrior (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Middle names for Pearl
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- CosimaOrder, decency (Greek, girl)
- DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- EvangelineGood news (Greek, girl)
- MargueriteA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MercyCompassion, forgiveness (Latin, girl)
- NaomiPleasantness, sweetness (Hebrew, girl)
- SabineSabine woman (Latin, girl)
- VioletViolet flower (Latin, girl)
More girl names from Latin
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
Pearl: common questions
What does the name Pearl mean?
Pearl comes from Latin and means "precious gem from the sea".
Is Pearl a boy or girl name?
Pearl is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Pearl come from?
Pearl comes from Latin and means "precious gem from the sea". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Pearl?
Pearl ranked #777 in the US in 2025, with 350 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Pearl?
Names spelled like Pearl include Petra, Pari, Perla, Pearlie and Peri.
What middle names go with Pearl?
Middle names that flow well with Pearl include Cosima, Daphne, Evangeline, Marguerite and Mercy. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.