UK girl's name
Perla
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "pearl".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Perla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Perla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 21 births.
This profile covers 210 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 209 living people in the UK are called Perla. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Perla ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 21 girls were registered as Perla.
- • About 209 living people in the UK are estimated to have Perla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2000
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2022
21 births
Estimated living
209
2026
Meaning
What does Perla mean?
The name Perla has its origins in the Spanish language, derived from the word "perla," which means "pearl." This name was likely first used during the medieval period in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions.
Pearls have been regarded as precious and valuable throughout history, and the name Perla may have been given to express a desire for the child to be as rare and beautiful as a pearl. It could also have been used as a descriptive name for a child with particularly luminous or radiant features.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Perla can be found in the 16th century, when a Spanish noblewoman named Perla de Toledo was mentioned in historical records. She was known for her philanthropic work and her support of the arts.
In the 17th century, the Italian painter Perla Facheris gained recognition for her portraits and religious paintings. She was one of the few female artists of her time to achieve widespread acclaim.
During the 18th century, Perla Bennavidez was a notable figure in the Mexican War of Independence. She served as a messenger and spy for the revolutionary forces, risking her life to support the cause of Mexican independence.
In the 19th century, Perla Bataille was a French author and activist who fought for women's rights and education. Her writings and speeches were influential in advancing the feminist movement in France.
Another notable figure with the name Perla was the 20th-century American artist Perla Siedle Gibson. Born in 1888, she was known for her vibrant and expressive paintings, many of which depicted scenes from her native New Mexico.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Perla. While it has its roots in Spanish and Latin cultures, the name has been adopted and used in various parts of the world, often as a symbol of beauty, rarity, and preciousness.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Perla over time
The chart below shows babies named Perla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Perla, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Perla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Perla was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2060 | 71 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2355 | 114 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3466 | 25 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Perla
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Perla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Perla in the UK right now?
In 2024, Perla was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Perla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 21 babies registered as Perla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Perla?
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "pearl".
How many people are called Perla in the UK?
A total of 210 babies have been registered as Perla across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.