Total births
1,689
Unisex name · since 1884
Pearly
Since 1884, U.S. Social Security records show 1,689 babies named Pearly, peaking in 1924. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,689
- total births
- 1884–2022
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
Pearly sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,689 recorded since 1884.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Pearly has been recorded 1,689 times among girls since 1884, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 2022.
- 1,689 total births
- 1884–2022 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,689 girls have been named Pearly since 1884, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2022.
- 1,689
- total births
- 1884–2022
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Pearly was born in this single decade.
1924
Single peak year
53 babies were named Pearly in 1924 - its busiest year on record.
Pearly's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Pearly's full recorded timeline at 1931, 55% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 45% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1887, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1924 peak of 53 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Pearly at a glance
Last recorded 2022Peak year
1924
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1884
Pearly popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–2022
- Peak year (1924)
- 53
- Annual births at peak, across 139 years of records
Pearly popularity over time - boys
208 total births recorded since 1912 (Pearly as boys' name)
Pearly by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Pearly's strongest decade.
366 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Pearly births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 20
1880s
20 births
- 1890s 60
1890s
60 births
- 1900s 93
1900s
93 births
- 1910s
1910s
199 births
- 1920s
1920s
366 births
- 1930s
1930s
336 births
- 1940s
1940s
318 births
- 1950s
1950s
197 births
- 1960s 55
1960s
55 births
- 1970s 7
1970s
7 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 2010s 21
2010s
21 births
- 2020s 12
2020s
12 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 366 births (22% of all-time use).
How Pearly compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Pearly's total volume
Pearly vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Pearly by state
Where Pearly concentrates geographically, total births since 1884
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 178 | 10.5% |
| #2 | Mississippi | | 39 | 2.3% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 33 | 2.0% |
| #4 | South Carolina | | 29 | 1.7% |
| #5 | Texas | | 23 | 1.4% |
| #6 | Arkansas | | 17 | 1.0% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 15 | 0.9% |
| #8 | Oklahoma | | 12 | 0.7% |
Louisiana share of Pearly's total US births 10.5%
Even split
178 of 1,689 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Pearly appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Pearly? ▼
1,689 babies have been named Pearly since 1884. It was last recorded in 2022. The peak year was 1924 with 53 births.
When was Pearly most popular? ▼
Pearly was most popular in the 1920s decade with 366 total births. The single peak year was 1924.
Where is Pearly most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Pearly are Louisiana (178 births), Mississippi (39 births), North Carolina (33 births).
Is Pearly a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Pearly is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,689 births, and as a boy's name it has 208 births.
How long has the name Pearly been used? ▼
Records for Pearly go back to 1884, giving 139 years of history through 2022.
What names are similar to Pearly? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Pearl, Pearlie, Pearline, Pearle, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Pearly's data
- Pearly's decade-level peak was the 1920s (366 total births); usage has since declined to 12 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Pearlys (178 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Pearly
Nearby Names Like Pearly
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Pearly
Pearl Girl
#801 159,088 births
Pearlie Girl
18,129 births
Pearline Girl
6,262 births
Pearle Girl
2,821 births
Pearlene Girl
1,958 births
Compare Pearly side by side: Pearly vs Pearl Pearly vs Pearlie Pearly vs Pearline
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1884–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Pearly: Baby Name Since 1884 - 1,689 Births, Peak 1924." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/pearly. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Pearly draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.