Gretchen
German · Girl · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Gretchen
Gretchen is a German diminutive of Margarete, meaning "pearl," derived from the Greek *margarites*.
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Etymology
Gretchen is a German diminutive of Margarete, meaning "pearl," derived from the Greek *margarites*. It is primarily used in German-speaking cultures and is famously associated with the character Gretchen in Goethe's *Faust*, a symbol of innocent femininity in German literature.
Gretchen currently ranks #4,292 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1973.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
German, English names that sit beautifully beside GretchenSimilar names you might like
Names starting with GMore names starting with G
- Gaynor
- Gayle
- Galina
- Gale
- Gad
- Gaetan
- Gavan
- Gaya
- Gagan
- Gagik
- Gaby
- Gareth
- Gaelle
- Galilea
- Gabor
- Garett
- Gail
- Gabryel
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