Pearlene: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	10	1	–	#2,162
1910s	168	17	+1580%	#1,294
1920s	331	33	+97%	#1,170
1930s	497	50	+50%	#885
1940s	481	48	-3%	#1,036
1950s	349	35	-27%	#1,330
1960s	105	11	-70%	#3,175
1970s	17	2	-84%	#5,699
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

#2,162

1910s

168

+1580%

#1,294

1920s

331

+97%

#1,170

1930s

497

+50%

#885

1940s

481

-3%

#1,036

1950s

349

-27%

#1,330

1960s

105

-70%

#3,175

1970s

-84%

#5,699

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Pearlene

Pearlene is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1906, 1,958 American babies have been named Pearlene. Its peak came in 1938, when 64 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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 Pearlene stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pearlene?

The median living Pearlene is about 77 years old; half are between 70 and 83. An estimated 900 people named Pearlene are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Pearlene year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	9	#5,699
1965	11	#4,133
1960	16	#3,175
1955	39	#1,661
1950	43	#1,403
1945	33	#1,413
1940	48	#1,043
1935	58	#910
1930	41	#1,176
1925	35	#1,368
1920	24	#1,743
1915	15	#2,120
1910	13	#1,319
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Pearlene, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Pearlene?

The median living Pearlene is about 77 years old. Half of all living Pearlenes are between 70 and 83 years old.

How many people named Pearlene are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Pearlene are alive in the United States, based on 1,958 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pearlene mean?

A female given name originating as a coinage.

How popular is the name Pearlene in 2025?

Pearlene did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Pearlene?

1,958 babies have been named Pearlene in the United States since 1906, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pearlene most popular?

Pearlene peaked in 1938, when 64 newborns received the name.

Is Pearlene a boy or girl name?

Pearlene is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Pearlene rising or falling?

Pearlene has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Pearlene

Pearlene popularity over time

The story of Pearlene

How old are people named Pearlene?

Pearlene year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Pearlene