Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Perla
GirlSpanish, Italian· “pearl”
- Meaning
- pearl
- Origin
- Spanish, Italian
- Pronunciation
- PUR-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,590
- US babies 2025
- 132
- Best rank
- #282 (2003)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Perla
Perla is a Spanish and Italian name that means “pearl”.
Perla is the Spanish and Italian word for "pearl", from medieval Latin perla. Pearls, formed inside oysters and other mollusks, have been prized for thousands of years as symbols of purity, rarity and beauty, and the pearl is the traditional birthstone for June. Perla is used as a given name in Spanish-speaking countries and among Latino families in the United States, where it is often pronounced PEHR-lah as in Spanish. It is the Latin-language counterpart of the English Pearl, a favorite of the early twentieth century. Perla is short, pretty and easy to say.
Popularity over time
Perla first appears in US Social Security records in 1918. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 40 different years, starting in 1979. Its best national rank was #282 in 2003, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,109 babies. In 2025, 132 babies were named Perla, and it ranked #1,590 nationally. That is 70% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #5,602 in 1920, #3,882 in 1950, #911 in 1980, #519 in 2000, #607 in 2010, and #1,590 in 2025. Of the 20,806 US girls named Perla since records began, 36% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 4,586 babies. Since 2010, 5,369 more have been named Perla.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Annika, Emilee, Halle, Carolina, and Hailee.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Perla ranked highest in Texas, California, and Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #898 | 33 |
| California | #1078 | 25 |
| Virginia | #1148 | 6 |
| Florida | #1314 | 11 |
| New York | #2015 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Perla is usually pronounced PUR-luh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with P and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Perla
A few middle names that flow with Perla: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Perla
Similar names
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Lists that include Perla
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Perla mean?
Perla is a Spanish and Italian name that means “pearl”.
What is the origin of the name Perla?
Perla has Spanish and Italian roots. Perla is the Spanish and Italian word for "pearl", from medieval Latin perla.
Is Perla a popular name?
Not especially. Perla ranked #1,590 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Perla a boy or girl name?
Perla is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Perla?
Perla is usually pronounced PUR-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings