UK girl's name
Perle
A feminine French name meaning "pearl".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Perle is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Perle popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. 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.
Perle is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Perle. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Perle ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 girls were registered as Perle.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Perle as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Perle mean?
The name Perle originates from the French word "perle," which means "pearl." It is a feminine given name that has been in use since the Middle Ages in France and other parts of Europe.
The name is thought to have been inspired by the precious gemstone, the pearl, which has been highly valued since ancient times for its beauty, rarity, and association with purity and innocence. Pearls have been mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Bible and the Quran, further cementing their significance in different cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Perle can be found in medieval French literature. The 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes mentioned a character named Perle in his work "Perceval, the Story of the Grail." This suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Perle. One of the most famous was Perle Mesta (1899-1975), an American socialite and political hostess who served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1949 to 1953. Another notable Perle was Perle Baudier (1884-1979), a French author and feminist known for her works on women's rights and education.
In the realm of literature, Perle McCall (1904-1989) was an American author and playwright who wrote several plays and novels, including "The Wooden Slipper" and "Caroline." Additionally, Perle Mesta (1889-1962), an American philanthropist and diplomat, was renowned for her efforts in promoting cultural exchange between the United States and other nations.
Perle Ourivio (1870-1938), a French painter and illustrator, made significant contributions to the Art Nouveau movement with her whimsical and decorative works. Her illustrations graced numerous books and magazines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the name Perle has its roots in French culture, it has been embraced by various linguistic communities worldwide, reflecting the universal appeal of the pearl as a symbol of beauty, purity, and elegance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Perle by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Perle 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Perle
- 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
Perle: questions and answers
How popular is the name Perle in the UK right now?
In 2011, Perle was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Perle most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Perle in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Perle?
A feminine French name meaning "pearl".
How many people are called Perle in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Perle across the 1 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.