Perl is an interpreted, high-level, and general-purpose programming language that was designed to make it easy for developers to work on complex tasks across multiple platforms. It is known for its concise syntax and efficient use of memory. Perl's name originates from a linguistic joke, as the first letter of each component in the phrase "Path Etches Language" spells Perl. The language was created by Larry Wall in 1987.
The name Perl experienced its peak popularity during the early 20th century, with a notable spike in births between 1913 and 1920, particularly in 1917 and 1920 when seven babies were named Perl each year. However, it seems to have been less common before and after this period, with a total of 85 births recorded between 1883 and 1931.