Pearline: 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	5	1	–	#1,444
1890s	50	5	+900%	#1,169
1900s	202	20	+304%	#612
1910s	750	75	+271%	#611
1920s	1,534	153	+105%	#514
1930s	1,415	142	-8%	#485
1940s	1,068	107	-25%	#638
1950s	711	71	-33%	#1,005
1960s	334	33	-53%	#1,486
1970s	110	11	-67%	#2,499
1980s	58	6	-47%	#5,365
1990s	20	2	-66%	#10,278
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	5	1	–	#18,218
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#1,444

1890s

+900%

#1,169

1900s

202

+304%

#612

1910s

750

+271%

#611

1920s

1,534

153

+105%

#514

1930s

1,415

142

-8%

#485

1940s

1,068

107

-25%

#638

1950s

711

-33%

#1,005

1960s

334

-53%

#1,486

1970s

110

-67%

#2,499

1980s

-47%

#5,365

1990s

-66%

#10,278

2000s

–

2010s

–

#18,218

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Pearline

Pearline 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 1889, 6,262 American babies have been named Pearline. Its peak came in 1927, when 187 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 Pearline stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pearline?

The median living Pearline is about 76 years old; half are between 67 and 84. An estimated 2,200 people named Pearline 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.

Pearline 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	5	#18,218
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	5	#11,946
1980	11	#6,203
1975	6	#8,722
1970	30	#2,499
1965	37	#1,905
1960	46	#1,667
1955	78	#1,136
1950	83	#1,005
1945	94	#772
1940	123	#638
1935	158	#509
1930	139	#582
1925	178	#534
1920	135	#614
1915	74	#773
1910	43	#656
1905	17	#917
1900	13	#1,095
1895	5	#1,763
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pearline?

The median living Pearline is about 76 years old. Half of all living Pearlines are between 67 and 84 years old.

How many people named Pearline are alive today?

An estimated 2,200 people named Pearline are alive in the United States, based on 6,262 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pearline mean?

Coined at the end of the 19th century from Pearl +‎ -ine.

How popular is the name Pearline in 2025?

Pearline 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 Pearline?

6,262 babies have been named Pearline in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pearline most popular?

Pearline peaked in 1927, when 187 newborns received the name.

Is Pearline a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Pearline rising or falling?

Pearline has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Pearline

Pearline popularity over time

The story of Pearline

How old are people named Pearline?

Pearline year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Pearline