The baby name Grete is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced GREH-tuh (German/Scandinavian; IPA: /ˈɡreːtə/),GRAY-tuh (Anglicized; IPA: /ˈɡreɪtə/).
The baby name Grete is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced GREH-tuh (German/Scandinavian; IPA: /ˈɡreːtə/),GRAY-tuh (Anglicized; IPA: /ˈɡreɪtə/).
Grete is Danish, Estonian, German, Norwegian in Origin.
Grete is a German and Scandinavian short form of Margarete/Margrete, ultimately from Greek Margarites “pearl,” via Latin Margarita. Common in Germany, Norway, Denmark, and Estonia, and among Low German and Frisian speakers, it functions both as a nickname and as an independent given name since the 19th century. Pronounced GREH-tə in German and GREH-teh in Norwegian/Danish, it conveys the jewel-like imagery long attached to Margaret-family names.
The name saw strong use in the early to mid-20th century across Germanic and Nordic countries and now reads as a vintage classic, while remaining rare in English-speaking contexts where Greta is better known. Close variants include Greta, Gretel, Gretchen, and the formal bases Margarete, Margreta/Margrete, Margareta, and Margaret; all share the meaning “pearl.” Notable bearers include Norwegian marathon legend Grete Waitz, designer Grete Jalk, physicist-philosopher Grete Hermann, and photographer Grete Stern.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 0 | #15 | 25 | 1,051 | |
| EE | Girls | 0 | #66 | 81 | 1,888 |
| Norway | Girls | 2022 | #119 | 4 | 435 |
| EE | Boys | 0 | #125 | 1 | 2,087 |
| Sweden | Girls | 2022 | #177 | 3 | 1,568 |
| DK | Girls | 0 | #183 | 153 | 7,429 |
| DK | 0 | #192 | 12 | 5,198 | |
| AR | 0 | #193 | 1 | 2,915 | |
| LT | Girls | 0 | #195 | 6 | 1,904 |
| AL | Girls | 0 | #227 | 1 | 4,141 |
| France | Girls | 1910 | #237 | 3 | 733 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #237 | 1 | 7,146 |
| JP | Girls | 0 | #251 | 1 | 6,592 |
| Austria | Girls | 0 | #272 | 156 | 1,885 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #339 | 1 | 7,570 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| Finland | Girls | 0 | #378 | 14 | 1,368 |
| YE | 0 | #398 | 1 | 8,639 | |
| ZA | 0 | #473 | 2 | 14,421 | |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #522 | 2 | 11,913 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #536 | 1 | 6,731 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #573 | 1 | 11,342 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #720 | 19 | 3,895 |
| Germany | Girls | 0 | #756 | 83 | 4,949 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #784 | 2 | 12,213 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| United States | Girls | 2002 | #885 | 5 | 9,522 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #908 | 8 | 14,098 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #946 | 10 | 5,933 |
| Spain | Girls | 0 | #973 | 11 | 5,561 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #984 | 9 | 12,708 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 1 | 16,355 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,152 | 1 | 16,140 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,228 | 9 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,254 | 1 | 19,440 | |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,264 | 4 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,430 | 17 | 9,415 |
Grete is popular in 35 countries — most recent births per country:
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