Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
In English use, Pearse has a related form in Piers. An origin associated with Piers is Old French.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1988. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Pearse has a related form in Piers. The history of Piers gives this family its wider story. William Langland’s Piers Plowman presents Piers as a figure associated with work, honesty, and fairness. The poem may have helped encourage the name’s revival in the twentieth century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Pearse through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 214
- 214 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1999
- 14 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #8,076 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −45%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 8,076 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 14 in 1999. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 274 as a first name in 2020; 1,225 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Pearse’s family of names
In English usage, Pearse has a related form in Piers.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Pearse
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Pearse, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Desmone
87% boys · 13% girls
Jaaron
>99% boys
Airik
“one who is pleasant and agreeable”
>99% boys
Naser
“one who offers his support”
>99% boys
Jacquez
Jacquez is a surname.
>99% boys
Zyshonne
>99% boys
Eldrich
“an old, wise ruler”
>99% boys
Gregoire
“watchful” · “one who is vigilant; watch-”
>99% boys