Gretchen
How to say it: GRETCH-in · /ˈɡrɛtʃən/
German diminutive of Margarete, from Greek 'margarites', meaning 'pearl'.
Gretchen was the 3,089th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 33 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are down about 77% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #4,899 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #3,089 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 33 |
| Share of births | 1 in 100,464 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −77% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #4,899 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Gretchen peaked in the 1970s and is less common today.
What goes with it
Parents who love Gretchen also love
Nicknames
- Gretch
- Greta
Honouring a Gretchen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Gretchen is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German.
Famous people named Gretchen
- Gretchen Whitmer (born 1971)American politician and attorney
- Gretchen Mol (born 1972)American actress and former model
- Gretchen Walsh (born 2003)American swimmer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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