Perla Girl

Popularity: #816 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PER-lah /ˈpɜːr.lə/

Origin: Spanish; Italian

Meaning: Spanish: pearl; Italian: pearl

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Perla has its roots in the Latin word "perla," which translates to "pearl." This term is derived from the earlier Latin form "perula," which also refers to a small pearl or a precious gem. The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of various Romance languages, particularly Spanish and Italian, where the name has been used as a feminine given name since the Middle Ages.

In these languages, it retains the same meaning, symbolizing beauty, purity, and value, akin to the qualities associated with pearls themselves. Historically, the name Perla has been associated with various cultural and religious contexts.

In Christian symbolism, pearls are often seen as representations of wisdom and the divine, as illustrated in biblical texts such as the Parable of the Pearl in the Gospel of Matthew, which dates back to the 1st century CE. The imagery of pearls has been prevalent in art and literature throughout the centuries, reinforcing the name's association with beauty and preciousness.

Additionally, the name has been borne by notable figures in literature and the arts, contributing to its cultural significance. The name Perla also resonates with themes of femininity and grace, often linked to the qualities of the pearl itself.

In various cultures, pearls have been regarded as symbols of status and elegance, further enhancing the name's appeal. The diminutive form "Perlita" is occasionally used in Spanish-speaking cultures, adding a layer of affection and intimacy to the name.

Overall, Perla embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance, reflecting the enduring allure of its meaning.

Famous people named Perla

In this section, you will find notable people named Perla. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Perla who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Perla who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Perla Haney-Jardine is an actress best known for Kill Bill: Volume 2, The Last House on the Left, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Perla is a singer best known for her work with the band Perla and the Pilots.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Perla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Perla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Perla was first seen in the United States in 1918.

Perla has ranked as high as #564 nationally, which occurred in 2003, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Perla has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Perla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Perla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Perla.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 132 0 132
2024 176 0 176
2023 203 0 203
2022 208 0 208
2021 198 0 198
2020 249 0 249
2019 236 0 236
2018 289 0 289
2017 345 0 345
2016 407 0 407
2015 443 0 443
2014 441 0 441
2013 423 0 423
2012 690 0 690
2011 444 0 444
2010 485 0 485
2009 581 0 581
2008 662 0 662
2007 803 0 803
2006 843 0 843
2005 865 0 865
2004 878 0 878
2003 1,109 0 1,109
2002 701 0 701
2001 533 0 533
2000 510 0 510
1999 472 0 472
1998 522 0 522
1997 480 0 480
1996 490 5 485
1995 502 0 502
1994 489 7 482
1993 478 0 478
1992 409 0 409
1991 408 8 400
1990 361 5 356
1989 267 0 267
1988 222 0 222
1987 216 0 216
1986 232 5 227
1985 204 0 204
1984 210 0 210
1983 166 0 166
1982 158 0 158
1981 155 0 155
1980 166 0 166
1979 144 0 144
1978 108 0 108
1977 84 0 84
1976 87 0 87
1975 76 0 76
1974 70 0 70
1973 63 0 63
1972 67 0 67
1971 44 0 44
1970 33 0 33
1969 28 0 28
1968 41 0 41
1967 24 0 24
1966 29 0 29
1965 21 0 21
1964 29 0 29
1963 27 0 27
1962 33 0 33
1961 27 0 27
1960 20 0 20
1959 15 0 15
1958 25 0 25
1957 17 0 17
1956 13 0 13
1955 12 0 12
1954 16 0 16
1953 22 0 22
1952 13 0 13
1951 8 0 8
1950 9 0 9
1949 10 0 10
1948 13 0 13
1947 10 0 10
1946 5 0 5
1945 9 0 9
1944 10 0 10
1942 6 0 6
1939 7 0 7
1938 11 0 11
1936 9 0 9
1935 6 0 6
1934 5 0 5
1931 8 0 8
1930 5 0 5
1929 5 0 5
1927 6 0 6
1926 8 0 8
1924 7 0 7
1923 6 0 6
1922 6 0 6
1921 6 0 6
1920 5 0 5
1918 7 0 7

Top States for Perla (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 36
26%
TX 33
24%
NY 9
7%
FL 8
6%
NC 8
6%
GA 6
4%
VA 6
4%
MI 6
4%
KS 6
4%
NJ 5
4%
TN 5
4%
IL 5
4%
IN 5
4%