Gretel Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GREH-tel /ˈɡrɛtəl/
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: little pearl; Dutch: little girl
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gretel is of German origin, derived as a diminutive form of the name Margarete, which itself comes from the Greek name Margaritēs, meaning 'pearl.' The evolution of the name can be traced through several linguistic stages: from Greek to Latin as Margarita, then to Old French as Marguerite, and finally into German as Margarete. The diminutive form Gretel emerged in the German-speaking regions, particularly in the context of folk culture and fairy tales, where it became widely recognized through the story of Hansel and Gretel, recorded by the Brothers Grimm in the early 19th century.
Historically, the name Margarete has been borne by various notable figures, including saints and queens. Saint Margaret of Antioch, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century, contributed to the name's popularity in medieval Europe.
The name was further popularized in the German-speaking world through various royal figures and noblewomen, particularly during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," published in 1812, solidified the name's association with innocence and adventure, as it tells the story of two children navigating a dark forest and confronting a witch.
Culturally, Gretel embodies themes of childhood, resilience, and the triumph of good over evil, which resonate deeply in folklore and literature. The name has come to symbolize not only the character's bravery but also the broader narrative of overcoming adversity.
The use of diminutive forms like Gretel reflects a common practice in Germanic languages, where affection and familiarity are expressed through such variations. This cultural significance, alongside its etymological roots, has ensured that the name Gretel retains a place in the literary and cultural imagination.
Famous people named Gretel
In this section, you will find notable people named Gretel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Gretel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gretel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Gretel Killeen is a television presenter and author best known for Big Brother Australia, The Great Australian Bake Off, and her books.
Fictional characters named Gretel
The following list of fictional characters named Gretel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Gretel is a fictional character from the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. She is the sister of Hansel and plays a crucial role in their escape from the witch's house.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gretel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gretel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Gretel was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Gretel has ranked as high as #4591 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Gretel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gretel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Gretel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Gretel.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48 | 48 |
| 2024 | 49 | 49 |
| 2023 | 50 | 50 |
| 2022 | 68 | 68 |
| 2021 | 49 | 49 |
| 2020 | 43 | 43 |
| 2019 | 40 | 40 |
| 2018 | 45 | 45 |
| 2017 | 41 | 41 |
| 2016 | 57 | 57 |
| 2015 | 36 | 36 |
| 2014 | 63 | 63 |
| 2013 | 46 | 46 |
| 2012 | 37 | 37 |
| 2011 | 37 | 37 |
| 2010 | 33 | 33 |
| 2009 | 25 | 25 |
| 2008 | 19 | 19 |
| 2007 | 15 | 15 |
| 2006 | 20 | 20 |
| 2005 | 20 | 20 |
| 2004 | 20 | 20 |
| 2003 | 21 | 21 |
| 2002 | 14 | 14 |
| 2001 | 22 | 22 |
| 2000 | 17 | 17 |
| 1999 | 9 | 9 |
| 1998 | 9 | 9 |
| 1997 | 12 | 12 |
| 1996 | 10 | 10 |
| 1995 | 9 | 9 |
| 1994 | 13 | 13 |
| 1993 | 6 | 6 |
| 1992 | 7 | 7 |
| 1991 | 7 | 7 |
| 1990 | 8 | 8 |
| 1989 | 7 | 7 |
| 1988 | 10 | 10 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 |
| 1986 | 8 | 8 |
| 1985 | 12 | 12 |
| 1984 | 10 | 10 |
| 1983 | 12 | 12 |
| 1982 | 7 | 7 |
| 1981 | 13 | 13 |
| 1980 | 15 | 15 |
| 1979 | 20 | 20 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 |
| 1976 | 17 | 17 |
| 1975 | 11 | 11 |
| 1974 | 15 | 15 |
| 1973 | 11 | 11 |
| 1972 | 9 | 9 |
| 1971 | 13 | 13 |
| 1970 | 6 | 6 |
| 1969 | 10 | 10 |
| 1968 | 11 | 11 |
| 1967 | 10 | 10 |
| 1966 | 8 | 8 |
| 1965 | 8 | 8 |
| 1964 | 6 | 6 |
| 1963 | 9 | 9 |
| 1962 | 9 | 9 |
| 1961 | 10 | 10 |
| 1960 | 6 | 6 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 10 | 10 |
| 1955 | 12 | 12 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 |
| 1953 | 7 | 7 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 |
| 1950 | 5 | 5 |
| 1947 | 5 | 5 |
| 1946 | 5 | 5 |
| 1941 | 10 | 10 |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 |
| 1939 | 9 | 9 |
| 1938 | 6 | 6 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 |
| 1936 | 7 | 7 |
| 1935 | 5 | 5 |
| 1934 | 8 | 8 |
| 1933 | 5 | 5 |
| 1932 | 10 | 10 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 |
| 1928 | 5 | 5 |
| 1927 | 10 | 10 |
| 1926 | 5 | 5 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 |
| 1920 | 6 | 6 |
| 1919 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 7 | 7 |
Top States for Gretel (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 10 | |
| GA | 5 |