The baby name Gretchen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡrɛtʃən/ (GRET-chən).
Gretchen is German in Origin.
The baby name Gretchen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡrɛtʃən/ (GRET-chən).
Gretchen is German in Origin.
Gretchen is the German diminutive of Margarete (Margaret), built with the affectionate suffix -chen; it ultimately descends from Greek Margarita, "pearl." First appearing in Middle High German as forms like Grete and Gretel, Gretchen came to signal endearment - literally "little Greta/Margarete" - and in many contexts conveys the sense of "little pearl".
The name is deeply associated with German literature: Goethe's Faust calls the tragic heroine Margarete by the pet form Gretchen, a usage echoed in Schubert's song "Gretchen am Spinnrade." Through German immigration it entered English-speaking use in the 19th century and saw modest U.S. popularity in the mid to late 20th century before declining. Variants and cognates include Greta, Grete, Gretel, Grethel, Greet and Grietje (Dutch), Grethe (Scandinavian), and the broader Margaret family: Margarete, Margarethe, Marguerite, Margarita, Marjorie, Megan, Margo, Maisie. Nicknames sometimes include Gret and Gretch.
| Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Whitmer is a prominent American politician known for serving as the Governor of Michigan. She gained national attention for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and her efforts to improve infrastructure and healthcare in the state. | Gretchen Mol Gretchen Mol is an American actor best known for her role as Gillian Darmody in the TV series Boardwalk Empire. She also starred in films like The Notorious Bettie Page and Rounders. Born in 1972, she has built a diverse career in both film and television. | Gretchen Wilson Gretchen Wilson is a musician from the United States, best known for her hit song 'Redneck Woman'. She gained fame in the early 2000s with her debut album 'Here for the Party'. Her music often reflects her country roots and has earned her several awards. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Girls | 1981 | #1 | — | 553 |
| PR | 0 | #49 | 7 | 1,497 | |
| ID | Girls | 0 | #102 | 1 | 3,319 |
| PH | 0 | #102 | 9 | 5,607 | |
| QA | 0 | #105 | 2 | 7,011 | |
| BN | Girls | 0 | #113 | 2 | 5,459 |
| KW | 0 | #121 | 1 | 5,216 | |
| OM | 0 | #121 | 1 | 6,215 | |
| IQ | 0 | #133 | 1 | 3,533 | |
| PA | 0 | #138 | 1 | 3,797 | |
| PR | Girls | 0 | #138 | 24 | 3,171 |
| BW | Girls | 0 | #151 | 1 | 4,216 |
| MT | Girls | 0 | #152 | 2 | 3,773 |
| CR | 0 | #160 | 6 | 5,526 | |
| PR | Boys | 0 | #178 | 1 | 2,508 |
| AE | 0 | #182 | 6 | 10,220 | |
| LU | Girls | 0 | #190 | 1 | 4,850 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #211 | 14 | 7,146 |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #239 | 13 | 7,056 |
| GH | 0 | #248 | 1 | 5,396 | |
| JP | Girls | 0 | #251 | 1 | 6,592 |
| Canada | Girls | 2023 | #275 | 5 | 2,824 |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #278 | 1 | 7,507 |
| SG | 0 | #279 | 4 | 11,010 | |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #286 | 4 | 8,139 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #287 | 30 | 15,378 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #288 | 104 | 13,098 |
| SA | 0 | #305 | 8 | 10,560 | |
| DK | Girls | 0 | #329 | 1 | 7,429 |
| KZ | Girls | 0 | #332 | 1 | 5,862 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #335 | 5 | 7,570 |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #354 | 6 | 8,829 |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| PL | Girls | 0 | #364 | 1 | 5,096 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #378 | 19 | 15,987 |
| BD | Girls | 0 | #406 | 1 | 8,413 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #406 | 3 | 11,440 |
| BO | 0 | #408 | 1 | 6,868 | |
| ZA | 0 | #414 | 34 | 14,421 | |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #428 | 88 | 19,177 |
| CL | 0 | #433 | 2 | 6,867 | |
| MX | 0 | #445 | 1 | 8,339 | |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #471 | 11 | 9,861 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #506 | 27 | 11,342 |
| CO | 0 | #510 | 1 | 7,768 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #517 | 37 | 20,968 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #518 | 6 | 11,913 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #525 | 1 | 11,303 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #529 | 8 | 6,731 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #537 | 50 | 18,916 |
| GT | Girls | 0 | #540 | 2 | 7,500 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #544 | 4 | 10,981 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #545 | 1 | 8,334 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #581 | 35 | 16,104 |
| BH | 0 | #582 | 6 | 17,937 | |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #638 | 8 | 11,648 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #654 | 1 | 13,121 |
| LB | 0 | #689 | 2 | 13,263 | |
| IT | 0 | #702 | 13 | 4,183 | |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #733 | 6 | 3,895 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #743 | 1 | 18,093 |
| Germany | Girls | 0 | #799 | 40 | 4,949 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #813 | 123 | 25,931 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #825 | 2 | 15,093 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #837 | 15 | 14,098 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #860 | 287 | 25,928 |
| TN | 0 | #865 | 1 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #874 | 43 | 8,487 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #918 | 1 | 17,948 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #931 | 11 | 12,708 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #946 | 10 | 5,933 |
| Spain | Girls | 0 | #971 | 13 | 5,561 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #981 | 14 | 24,821 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,002 | 9 | 14,861 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #1,009 | 1 | 14,742 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 1 | 16,355 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,141 | 3 | 22,615 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,144 | 9 | 16,140 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,153 | 31 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,167 | 12 | 25,619 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| TR | 0 | #1,253 | 2 | 19,440 | |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,415 | 32 | 9,415 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,690 | 2 | 28,008 |
Gretchen is popular in 58 countries — most recent births per country:
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