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Perlie
How to Pronounce Perlie
Pronounced PUR-lee /ˈpɜrli/Medium
Meaning: Perlie is an affectionate spelling of Pearlie, a pet form of Pearl — the lustrous gem, from Latin perla by way of English. The -ie ending makes it a warm, homey given name in its own right.Medium
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
Perlie is a fond form of Pearlie, itself a pet form of Pearl, the gemstone name that peaked in popularity around the turn of the last century. It appears in United States records from the late eighteen-eighties and crests around 1922, especially in Southern families who favored warm -ie names. It was never common in this spelling, given to only a couple dozen girls a year.
Last recorded around 1960, Perlie reads as a great-grandmother-era name and has not revived, though Pearl itself is returning with the antique-jewel trend. Its cozy sound and clear gem meaning make it a nickname-style twist for parents drawn to Pearl but wanting something rarer.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Perlie mean?
It is a pet form of Pearl, from the English word for the gem, with the fond -ie ending.
How do you pronounce Perlie?
It's said PUR-lee /ˈpɜrli/, 2 syllables.
Is Perlie a boy or girl name?
Perlie is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Perlie?
It was always rare, a pet form of Pearl given to only a couple dozen girls a year in the early nineteen-hundreds.