Grethel Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GREH-tel //ˈɡrɛtəl//
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: little pearl; Dutch: a form of Gretel
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Grethel is believed to be a diminutive form of the name Margarete, which has its roots in the Greek word "margaritēs," meaning "pearl." This Greek term was adopted into Latin as "margarita," and subsequently made its way into Old French as "Marguerite." The transition into English occurred during the medieval period, where Margarete became a common name, with Grethel emerging as a variant or diminutive form, particularly in German-speaking regions. The name Grethel is often associated with the German fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," which was popularized by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century, although the tale itself has origins that predate their collection.
Historically, the name Margarete has been borne by numerous notable figures, including saints and queens. One of the most significant is Saint Margaret of Scotland, who lived in the 11th century and was canonized for her piety and charitable works.
Her influence helped to popularize the name in various forms across Europe, including Grethel. The name's association with purity and beauty, as symbolized by the pearl, has contributed to its enduring appeal throughout the centuries.
Culturally, Grethel embodies themes of innocence and resilience, particularly through its connection to folklore. The character of Gretel in "Hansel and Gretel" represents cleverness and bravery in the face of adversity, which resonates with traditional narratives of overcoming challenges.
This fairy tale, first published in the early 19th century, has solidified the name's place in literary history, ensuring that Grethel remains a symbol of resourcefulness and familial bonds. Overall, the name carries a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, reflecting both its historical roots and its narrative associations.
Fictional characters named Grethel
The following list of fictional characters named Grethel 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.
Grethel 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 Grethel, 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 Grethel. 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 Grethel was first seen in the United States in 1904.
Grethel has ranked as high as #3561 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Texas, Kentucky, California, West Virginia, and Arkansas.
In the past 5 years the name Grethel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Grethel 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 Grethel 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 Grethel.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 |
| 2023 | 16 | 16 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 16 | 16 |
| 2019 | 13 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 12 | 12 |
| 2014 | 12 | 12 |
| 2013 | 14 | 14 |
| 2012 | 14 | 14 |
| 2011 | 15 | 15 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 |
| 2006 | 8 | 8 |
| 2005 | 8 | 8 |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 5 | 5 |
| 1997 | 8 | 8 |
| 1995 | 6 | 6 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 | 5 |
| 1978 | 5 | 5 |
| 1972 | 5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 |
| 1949 | 5 | 5 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 |
| 1941 | 6 | 6 |
| 1940 | 6 | 6 |
| 1939 | 5 | 5 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 |
| 1936 | 6 | 6 |
| 1933 | 8 | 8 |
| 1932 | 6 | 6 |
| 1931 | 9 | 9 |
| 1930 | 9 | 9 |
| 1929 | 7 | 7 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 |
| 1927 | 10 | 10 |
| 1926 | 6 | 6 |
| 1925 | 10 | 10 |
| 1924 | 8 | 8 |
| 1923 | 9 | 9 |
| 1922 | 12 | 12 |
| 1921 | 20 | 20 |
| 1920 | 19 | 19 |
| 1919 | 17 | 17 |
| 1918 | 13 | 13 |
| 1917 | 17 | 17 |
| 1916 | 14 | 14 |
| 1915 | 16 | 16 |
| 1914 | 11 | 11 |
| 1913 | 14 | 14 |
| 1912 | 9 | 9 |
| 1911 | 10 | 10 |
| 1910 | 7 | 7 |
| 1908 | 6 | 6 |
| 1907 | 7 | 7 |
| 1906 | 9 | 9 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Grethel (2020)
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 | 5 |