Gretel
How to say it: GRET-ul · /ˈɡrɛtəl/
German diminutive of Margarete, from Greek 'pearl' - forever linked to the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.
Gretel was the 1,640th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 48 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 7% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,768 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,640 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 48 |
| Share of births | 1 in 38,550 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +7% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,768 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Gretel is climbing: the 2020s are already its best decade.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Greta
- Gret
- Tel
Honouring a Gretel in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Gretel is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, German, Greek.
Famous people named Gretel
- Gretel Bergmann (1914–2017)German high jumper
- Gretel Adorno (1902–1993)German chemist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Gretel of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Hansel and Gretel (1812)
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