Perla
Girl name · #1588 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Perla? In official American birth records, Perla has been tracked continuously since 1918, giving it 107 years of documented American history.
Perla is currently the #1588 girl name in the United States — 132 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #648, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,636 girls born in 2025 was named Perla.
The 107-year story
Perla first appears in the Social Security records in 1918, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2003, when 1,109 girls were named Perla — good for #282 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Perla per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Perla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Perla in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Perla is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Perla will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Perla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Perla is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Perla is most common in TX (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Perla is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Perla
Statistically, parents drawn to Perla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Paola, Keila, Priscila, Shayla, and Shyla.
PaolaKeilaPriscilaShaylaShylaPriyaDalilaIsela
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Perla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 132 | #1587 |
| 2024 | 176 | #1305 |
| 2023 | 203 | #1179 |
| 2022 | 208 | #1163 |
| 2021 | 198 | #1207 |
| 2020 | 249 | #1011 |
| 2019 | 236 | #1069 |
| 2018 | 289 | #924 |
| 2017 | 345 | #794 |
| 2016 | 407 | #704 |
| 2015 | 443 | #648 |
| 2014 | 441 | #646 |
| 2013 | 423 | #674 |
| 2012 | 690 | #452 |
| 2011 | 444 | #644 |
| 2010 | 485 | #607 |
| 2009 | 581 | #523 |
| 2008 | 662 | #479 |
| 2007 | 803 | #406 |
| 2006 | 843 | #385 |
| 2005 | 865 | #365 |
| 2004 | 878 | #361 |
| 2003 | 1,109 | #282 |
| 2002 | 701 | #413 |
| 2001 | 533 | #509 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Perla?
In official American birth records, the name Perla first appeared in 1918 (over 107 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 107 years.
Is Perla a popular girl name?
Perla ranked #1588 among girls in 2025 with 132 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #648.
When was the name Perla most popular?
Perla peaked in 2003, when 1,109 American girls received the name (ranked #282 that year). Since 2003 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Perla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,636 newborn American girls was named Perla. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.