Perla
Girl name · #1588 in 2025 · Uniqueness 81/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Perla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Perla in class?
Perla scores 81 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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. In 2025 the states with the most Perlas were TX (33), CA (25), FL (11), NY (6), VA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 81/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.