Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1924

Pearly

Gender Unisex · 89% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Pearly
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1924
61 babies
All-time total
1,897
#5,281 all-time among girls
First recorded
1884
in Social Security records

Pearly popularity over time

1,897 babies have been named Pearly since 1884, 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 20 – 20 2 – #839
1890s 60 – 60 6 +200% #1,025
1900s 93 – 93 9 +55% #993
1910s 199 36 235 24 +153% #1,141
1920s 366 84 450 45 +91% #1,077
1930s 336 37 373 37 -17% #1,120
1940s 318 22 340 34 -9% #1,180
1950s 197 24 221 22 -35% #1,833
1960s 55 5 60 6 -73% #3,833
1970s 7 – 7 1 -88% #7,207
1980s 5 – 5 1 -29% #11,634
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – – – – – –
2010s 21 – 21 2 – #12,882
2020s (to 2025) 12 – 12 2 -5% #13,248

The story of Pearly

Pearly 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 1884, 1,897 American babies have been named Pearly, about 89% girls and 11% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1924, when 61 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 Pearly stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pearly?

The median living Pearly is about 77 years old; half are between 69 and 84. An estimated 600 people named Pearly are alive in the United States today.

median 77 020406080100

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

Pearly 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 7 #13,248 – –
2021 5 #17,077 – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 6 #15,204 – –
2017 7 #13,760 – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 8 #12,882 – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 – – – –
1980 5 #11,634 – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 5 #7,251 – –
1960 12 #3,863 – –
1955 15 #3,063 5 #4,251
1950 23 #2,039 – –
1945 24 #1,732 – –
1940 29 #1,435 – –
1935 26 #1,479 5 #4,029
1930 30 #1,425 – –
1925 46 #1,148 6 #4,085
1920 31 #1,464 10 #2,914
1915 18 #1,870 – –
1910 16 #1,156 – –
1905 5 #2,167 – –
1900 12 #1,157 – –
1895 – – – –
1890 6 #1,312 – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pearly?

The median living Pearly is about 77 years old. Half of all living Pearlys are between 69 and 84 years old.

How many people named Pearly are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Pearly are alive in the United States, based on 1,897 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Pearly in 2025?

Pearly 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 Pearly?

1,897 babies have been named Pearly in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pearly most popular?

Pearly peaked in 1924, when 61 newborns received the name.

Is Pearly a boy or girl name?

Pearly is used for both: about 89% of babies named Pearly have been girls and 11% boys.

Is the name Pearly rising or falling?

Pearly is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Pearly

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

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