Grettel
A feminine diminutive form of Margaret, derived from Greek meaning "pearl".
Name Census estimates that about 1,041 living Americans carry the first name Grettel. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Grettel today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Grettel births was 2018 (94 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Grettel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Grettel is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.0K
~ 1 in 329,255 Americans
Peak year
2018
94 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,350
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Grettel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Grettel from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 585 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Grettel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Grettel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Grettel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Grettels live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Texas, California, Arizona recorded the most babies named Grettel, while Florida, Colorado, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 98 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Grettel
The name Grettel is a diminutive form of the German name Greta, which is derived from the Greek word "greta" meaning "pearl." This name has its origins in ancient Greece, where pearls were highly valued and considered symbols of purity and innocence.
The earliest recorded use of the name Grettel can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany. It was a popular name among German-speaking communities and was often used as a nickname or pet name for girls named Greta or Margareta.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Grettel is Grettel Legler, a German folk hero from the 17th century. She was known for her bravery and heroism during the Thirty Years' War when she helped defend her village against invading soldiers.
Another notable figure with the name Grettel is Grettel Grimm, the sister of the famous Brothers Grimm. She was an influential figure in the preservation and publication of German folk tales and is credited with contributing many stories to the Grimm's collection.
In the 19th century, Grettel Schroeder was a German painter and artist who gained recognition for her beautiful landscapes and portraiture. Her works are now displayed in various museums throughout Europe.
Grettel von Arnim was a German writer and novelist from the early 20th century. She was known for her introspective and poetic writing style, which explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
Grettel Bergmann was a Jewish German high jumper who was denied the opportunity to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics due to her religion. Despite facing discrimination, she went on to become a successful athlete and advocate for human rights.
While the name Grettel is not as common today as it once was, it carries a rich cultural heritage and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Its connection to pearls and innocence has contributed to its enduring charm and appeal.
People
Grettel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Grettel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Grettel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Grettel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,041 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Grettel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 329,255 US residents.
Is Grettel a common name?
We classify Grettel as "Rare". It ranks above 90.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,049 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Grettel most popular?
The single biggest year for Grettel was 2018, when 94 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Grettel is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Grettel a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Grettel in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.