Home › Baby Names Directory › Perl

Perl

♀ Girl

Pronounced PURL /ˈpɜrl/High

Meaning: Yiddish form of Pearl — from the gemstone, 'a pearl' (a treasure from the sea; Latin perla)Medium

In 30 seconds: A pearl: Perl is the Yiddish Pearl — 'a pearl'. Vintage, sweet, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumYiddish, Latin

MeaningYiddish form of Pearl — from the gemstone, 'a pearl' (a treasure from the sea; Latin perla)

U.S. rank (2024)#5549 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births23 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 583

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

Perl is the Yiddish form of Pearl — from the gemstone, 'a pearl', a lustrous treasure formed within an oyster (Latin perla; a symbol of purity and rare worth). A vintage, sweet name in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition (often given in memory of a forebear named Perl).

In the U.S. it appears in Jewish families. Rare, a-pearl at the root, and vintage.

Did you know? Perl is the Yiddish form of Pearl — from the lustrous gemstone, 'a pearl' (a treasure formed in the sea) — a vintage, sweet name in Jewish tradition (often after a beloved Perl).

Overall data confidence 72%

References — Perl — Yiddish form of Pearl

Variations

PearlPerlePerla

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Perl…

Pearl— the English form

Perla— the Spanish/Italian form

Perel— a kin Yiddish form

Peace— shares Perl's Latin roots

Prim— another Latin name

Explore names like Perl

By themelatin yiddish jewish gem-name

By meaningSea / Water Jewel / Gem Rock / Stone

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Perl mean?

Perl is the Yiddish Pearl — 'a pearl'.

How do you pronounce Perl?

It's said PURL /ˈpɜrl/ — one syllable.

Is Perl a boy or girl name?

Perl is a girl's name.

How popular is Perl?

Perl is a rare name in the U.S.