Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1926

Pearley

Gender Unisex · 79% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Pearley
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1926
31 babies
All-time total
851
#9,769 all-time among girls
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

Pearley popularity over time

851 babies have been named Pearley since 1882, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s 11 17 28 3 – #1,024
1890s 28 5 33 3 +18% #1,072
1900s 61 – 61 6 +85% #1,395
1910s 102 43 145 15 +138% #1,464
1920s 161 68 229 23 +58% #1,817
1930s 115 35 150 15 -34% #1,900
1940s 129 10 139 14 -7% #1,673
1950s 66 – 66 7 -53% #3,626
1960s – – – – – –
1970s – – – – – –
1980s – – – – – –
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Pearley

Pearley 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 1882, 851 American babies have been named Pearley, about 79% girls and 21% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1926, when 31 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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

How old are people named Pearley?

The median living Pearley is about 80 years old; half are between 74 and 86. An estimated 200 people named Pearley are alive in the United States today.

median 80 020406080100

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

Pearley 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 – – – –
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 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 5 #5,907 – –
1945 15 #2,319 – –
1940 23 #1,673 – –
1935 18 #1,900 8 #2,888
1930 7 #3,968 9 #2,954
1925 20 #1,997 6 #4,084
1920 15 #2,444 7 #3,738
1915 15 #2,121 11 #2,413
1910 – – – –
1905 9 #1,395 – –
1900 9 #1,405 – –
1895 7 #1,399 – –
1890 6 #1,311 – –
1885 6 #1,024 – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pearley?

The median living Pearley is about 80 years old. Half of all living Pearleys are between 74 and 86 years old.

How many people named Pearley are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Pearley are alive in the United States, based on 851 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Pearley in 2025?

Pearley 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 Pearley?

851 babies have been named Pearley in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pearley most popular?

Pearley peaked in 1926, when 31 newborns received the name.

Is Pearley a boy or girl name?

Pearley is used for both: about 79% of babies named Pearley have been girls and 21% boys.

Is the name Pearley rising or falling?

Pearley has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Pearley

Names that sound and feel close to Pearley: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Pearley with similar names → More names starting with P →