Pearl's name is appropriate for a number of reasons.
A pearl is traditionally symbolic of something of great value. Pearl is a child born in shame, looked upon as tainted or arguably of less value in Puritan society, yet by naming her Pearl, Hawthorne emphasizes her worth. Indeed, isolated from her peers, she is high-spirited and close to nature, standing out in contrast to the drab, constrained children of the Puritan elders. Dressed unconventionally in decorative clothing, she is a dynamic personality, shining brightly in the dull, gray landscape of her society.
Also, in the Bible, a pearl is compared to heaven, something man will strive to achieve at great cost (Matthew 13:44-45). Pearl likewise is conceived and born at great cost to her parents.
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