Perl
Every Perl since 1883 — 701 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Perl
Perl is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,436 in 2025 with 32 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1883, 701 American babies have been named Perl — about 88% girls and 12% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 35 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Perl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Perl year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #4,436 | — | — |
| 2024 | 24 | #5,408 | — | — |
| 2023 | 35 | #4,170 | — | — |
| 2022 | 29 | #4,766 | — | — |
| 2021 | 25 | #5,205 | — | — |
| 2020 | 21 | #5,805 | — | — |
| 2019 | 24 | #5,420 | — | — |
| 2018 | 24 | #5,423 | — | — |
| 2017 | 25 | #5,300 | — | — |
| 2016 | 33 | #4,414 | — | — |
| 2015 | 19 | #6,662 | — | — |
| 2014 | 23 | #5,752 | — | — |
| 2013 | 20 | #6,420 | — | — |
| 2012 | 17 | #7,383 | — | — |
| 2011 | 11 | #10,232 | — | — |
| 2010 | 20 | #6,578 | — | — |
| 2009 | 22 | #6,255 | — | — |
| 2008 | 12 | #9,942 | — | — |
| 2007 | 16 | #8,011 | — | — |
| 2006 | 12 | #9,761 | — | — |
| 2005 | 14 | #8,230 | — | — |
| 2004 | 20 | #6,153 | — | — |
| 2003 | 9 | #11,107 | — | — |
| 2002 | 13 | #8,177 | — | — |
| 2001 | 15 | #7,233 | — | — |
| 2000 | 7 | #12,807 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | 5 | #4,418 |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | 7 | #3,741 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,319 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Perl in 2025?
Perl ranked #4,436 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 32 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Perl?
701 babies have been named Perl in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Perl most popular?
Perl peaked in 2023, when 35 newborns received the name.
Is Perl a boy or girl name?
Perl is used for both: about 88% of babies named Perl have been girls and 12% boys.
Is the name Perl rising or falling?
Perl is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.