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Pearl

Girl name · 71 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Pearl: 71 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 9 births in 2024.

Pearl, a jewel name of English origin, derives from the Latin *perla*, ultimately from the Greek *margarites*, meaning "pearl" itself. One of the most celebrated bearers was American writer Pearl S. Buck, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature for her novel *The Good Earth*. The name also features in literature as the tragic heroine Hester Prynne's daughter in Nathaniel Hawthorne's *The Scarlet Letter*. While not a Scottish place, the name shares its root with the River Margarita in Italy. Pearl was a Victorian favourite that saw a revival in the 2010s, and it remains a classic gemstone name alongside Ruby and Opal.

Girl 14 of 52 years

Peak year
20249 babies
Latest (2024)
#3519 babies
Total births
71since 1978
5-year trend
▲ 35%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 · 9
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).