Bearl

♂ Boy

Pronounced BURL /ˈbɜrl/Low

Meaning: Bearl is one more early-century spelling of Burl, from the English word for knotted wood and a surname for a dweller by a clearing. The ea-spelling reflects rural American ears writing the same short sound as Birl and Berlie.Low

In 30 seconds: Bearl is a boy's name, a spelling of Burl meaning 'knot in wood.' It appears in early United States records around the nineteen-twenties (said BURL).

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningBearl is one more early-century spelling of Burl, from the English word for knotted wood and a surname for a dweller by a clearing. The ea-spelling reflects rural American ears writing the same short sound as Birl and Berlie.

U.S. rank (1952)#3399 ↗ Rising

1952 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1925

Total births (all-time)≈ 183

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bearl is a variant of Burl, both from the English burl, the whorled grain of wood, and from a surname meaning 'dweller by the clearing.' It flourished briefly in the rural South, where phonetic spellings of plain sounds were common.

It was always uncommon, given to only about fifteen boys a year at its peak around 1925 before vanishing from the rolls. A boy named Bearl then belongs to a great-grandparent's generation now.

Did you know? Bearl is part of a small cluster of interchangeable early-century boys' names - Burl, Birl, Berlie, Bearl - that spelled one homespun sound several ways.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Bearl — Spelling of Burl/Berl; English word/surname; traced honestly.

Variations

BurlBirlBerlBerlie

Nicknames

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If you like Bearl…

Burl— the standard spelling of the same name

Birl— a sister spelling of the short sound

Berl— another early-century spelling

Berlie— the fuller '-ie' form of the family

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bearl mean?

As a form of Burl, it comes from the English word for the knotted grain of wood, and from a surname for a dweller by a clearing.

How do you pronounce Bearl?

It is said BURL /ˈbɜrl/ - one syllable.

Is Bearl a boy or girl name?

Bearl is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Bearl?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen boys a year at its peak in the nineteen-twenties.