The baby name Gretal is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GREH-təl).
Gretal is German in Origin.
The baby name Gretal is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GREH-təl).
Gretal is German in Origin.
Gretal is an alternative English spelling of Gretel, the German diminutive of Margarete (Margaret). The root ultimately goes back to Greek Margaritēs, “pearl,” a meaning retained across the name’s many forms. The -el ending is a traditional South German/Austrian diminutive, also seen in parallel pet forms like Gretl. Widespread use in German-speaking lands dates from the Middle Ages through devotion to Saint Margaret, and the name gained broader cultural visibility via the Brothers Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel.
Variants and related forms include Gretel, Grethel, Gretl, Grete, Greta, and Gretchen; cognates in other languages are Margaret, Marguerite, Margarita, Margherita, and Margareta. Usage of Gretal is rare in English registries but appears among families with German heritage and in regions touched by German migration. Chosen today, Gretal offers a vintage, storybook flavor with the luminous “pearl” meaning and a distinctive, seldom-seen spelling.
Gretal is extremely rare. Across 4 countries, we found just 5 recorded uses of it.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG | 0 | #282 | 1 | 11,010 | |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #423 | 2 | 15,987 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
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