Pearl

Pearl is an English gemstone name, drawn directly from the lustrous material formed inside certain mollusks. Unlike a name translated as “pearl” from another language, it uses the everyday English word itself. The gem has accumulated associations with value and beauty, but those are cultural symbols rather than additional literal meanings.

Nathaniel Hawthorne gave the name to Hester Prynne’s daughter in The Scarlet Letter, where her preciousness to her mother is central to the choice. Pearl Bailey provides a musical and theatrical association. Perle and Perla are related forms in other languages. Although often associated with girls, Pearl also has a history of use for boys, so that usage is not solely a modern invention.