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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Pearly

Pearly

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Pearly

Pronounced PUR-lee /ˈpɜr.li/Medium

Meaning: Pearly is an affectionate elaboration of Pearl, the gemstone name, from Latin 'perla' by way of Old French. It reads as a sweetened, -y pet form of the popular vintage gem name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Pearly is a pet form of Pearl (said 'PUR-lee'), from Latin for the lustrous gem.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin
MeaningPearly is an affectionate elaboration of Pearl, the gemstone name, from Latin 'perla' by way of Old French. It reads as a sweetened, -y pet form of the popular vintage gem name.
U.S. rank (2022)#13238 β†— Rising
2022 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1924
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 1,689

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192418842022

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

Pearly is an elaborated pet form of Pearl, from Latin 'perla', the pearl gem, which was a favorite vintage name. Pearly appeared as a given name in the early 1900s and crested around 1924 at a few dozen girls a year.

The name reads as a tender, old-fashioned gem name in the family of Opal and Ruby. A Pearly from the peak would be about a century old now, and it sits within the broader revival of vintage gem and nature names.

Did you know? Pearl was a hugely popular gem name a century ago, and Pearly is its warm, diminutive echo β€” 'little Pearl'.
Overall data confidence 66%
References β€” Pearly β€” pet form of Pearl, Latin 'perla' (pearl gem)

Variations

PearlPearliePerla

Nicknames

PearlPearly

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Pearly…

Pearlβ€” the base gem name Pearly softens
Pearlieβ€” a like -ie pet form of the same name
Opalβ€” another vintage gemstone girls' name
Rubyβ€” a same era gem name now reviving

Explore names like Pearly

By themevintagenicknamegem

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pearly mean?

Pearly is an elaborated pet form of Pearl, the gemstone name, from Latin 'perla'.

How do you pronounce Pearly?

It's said PUR-lee /ˈpɜr.li/ β€” two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Pearly a boy or girl name?

Pearly is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Pearly?

Pearly was an uncommon vintage gem name and remains rare, though gem names are reviving.

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