Fun Facts About the Name Gretel
- More than 1 thousand babies named Gretel: U.S. records list 1,513 babies given the name Gretel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Gretel Mean?
Gretel is a German diminutive of Grete, a short form of Margarete (Margaret). The name goes back to Greek margaritēs, "pearl," by way of Latin margarita. The German suffix -el is a diminutive ending, so the literal sense is "little pearl"; the customary meaning given for the name is "pearl."
Gretel Name History & Origins
Gretel developed in German-speaking Europe as a familiar form of Grete, itself a common short form of Margarete. Diminutives in -el were part of everyday German naming, and Gretel eventually came to be used as a name in its own right. In English, the name is best known from the Brothers Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel, first published in 1812, in which Gretel is the sister who helps overcome the witch. The tale is a literary use of an existing German diminutive, not the origin of the name.
How Popular is the Name Gretel?
Gretel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #2,588 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,269 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2024 | #3,290 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2023 | #3,238 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2022 | #2,588 | 68 | 0.0041% |
| 2021 | #3,263 | 49 | 0.0030% |
| 2020 | #3,518 | 43 | 0.0027% |
| 2019 | #3,739 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 2018 | #3,454 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 2017 | #3,720 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2016 | #2,943 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2015 | #4,097 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #2,755 | 63 | 0.0035% |
| 2013 | #3,420 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #4,074 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2011 | #4,024 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2010 | #4,432 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #5,601 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #6,898 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #8,235 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #6,437 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #6,097 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #6,055 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #5,657 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #7,555 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #5,252 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #6,300 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #9,776 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,555 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #7,431 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #8,373 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #9,025 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #6,819 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #12,314 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #10,868 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #10,667 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #9,566 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #10,072 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #7,318 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #11,934 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #7,990 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #5,778 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #6,454 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #5,570 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #8,536 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #5,362 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #4,806 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #3,810 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #7,911 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #10,139 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #3,855 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #5,266 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #4,096 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #4,998 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #5,629 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #4,386 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #7,372 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,824 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #4,302 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #4,407 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #5,018 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,981 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #6,273 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,661 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #4,658 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #4,357 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #5,940 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #6,434 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #4,030 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #3,450 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #6,064 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,750 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,642 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #5,593 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #5,618 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #5,216 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1941 | #2,920 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #4,619 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #2,997 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #4,029 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,025 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #3,510 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #4,484 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #3,283 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #4,480 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #2,917 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #4,605 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #4,826 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #5,009 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1927 | #3,151 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #5,172 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #5,323 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1920 | #4,616 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,481 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,583 | 7 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Gretel
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with G
How the Name Gretel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Gretel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gretel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.