Girl · English · Christian · International
Pearl
PearlSay it PURL
- Meaning today
- Pearl, precious gem
- Original meaning
- "a pearl; figuratively, something very precious" Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, s.v. pearl, n., senses 1 and 2
- Say it
- PURL
- Other spellings
- Pearle
Pearl
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Pearl meaning
Pearl is a Christian and international girl's name of English origin.
A pearl; figuratively, something very precious
Also used to mean: precious gem
Pearl is one of the English gem names. Webster's 1913 dictionary defines a pearl as the hard, glossy body formed inside certain shellfish and prized as a jewel, and, figuratively, as anything very precious. Christians also know it from Jesus' parable of the merchant who sold everything to buy one 'pearl of great price', a picture of the kingdom of heaven. The Greek word there, margarites, is the root of the name Margaret. In India Pearl is used mostly by Christian families.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), s.v. pearl, n., senses 1 and 2 · entry pearl · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Webster's 1913, Pearl · Strong's G3135, margarites (Bible Hub)
Famous namesakes
- Pearl S. Buck, American novelist and Nobel laureate
Popularity abroad
- #777 United States, girls 2025 (up 27 from 804 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #258 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Pearl · Pearle