Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Gretha as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Gretha

Add to my Name List

The baby name Gretha is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡreɪθə/ (GRAY-thə); often pronounced /ˈɡreːta/ or /ˈɡreta/ (GREH-tah) in Germanic languages.

Gretha is Dutch in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Dutch
Pronunciation: /ˈɡreɪθə/ (GRAY-thə); often pronounced /ˈɡreːta/ or /ˈɡreta/ (GREH-tah) in Germanic languages

What is the meaning of the name Gretha ?

The baby name Gretha is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡreɪθə/ (GRAY-thə); often pronounced /ˈɡreːta/ or /ˈɡreta/ (GREH-tah) in Germanic languages.

Gretha is Dutch in Origin.

Gretha is the Dutch- and Scandinavian-flavored form of Greta, itself a short form of Margareta/Margaret, ultimately from Greek Margarites “pearl,” likely of Persian origin. The inserted h reflects regional spelling conventions (compare Grethe in Danish/Norwegian) and helps distinguish this delicate, vintage diminutive from its pan-European sibling Greta.

Usage traces back to medieval devotion to St. Margaret, which propelled countless vernacular forms across Europe. Gretha has been recorded in the Netherlands, South Africa (via Afrikaans), Germany, and Scandinavia, with peaks in the early–mid 20th century; it remains rare in the English-speaking world and niche today beside the revived Greta. Related variants include Grete, Grethe, Greta, Gretel, Gretchen, Greet, Griet, Grietje, and the longer Margaretha/Margrethe and Margaret/Margarita. The enduring meaning of “pearl” lends Gretha an image of classic luster and understated elegance.

Gretha has the following similar or variant Names

Gretha – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
Norway Girls 1969 #128 6 460
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
Sweden Girls 2016 #185 3 1,634
NA Girls 0 #211 14 7,146
DK Girls 0 #326 4 7,429
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
NL 0 #361 31 2,481
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
PH Girls 0 #428 2 13,098
ZA 0 #431 17 14,421
NL Girls 0 #512 533 5,933
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
KW Girls 0 #560 2 19,177
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
AR Girls 0 #629 2 8,289
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
HK Girls 0 #648 3 16,104
BO Girls 0 #650 2 9,488
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
PE Girls 0 #932 12 14,861
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
SA Girls 0 #1,012 3 25,931
ZA Girls 0 #1,031 111 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,408 39 9,415

Gretha is popular in 32 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
Sweden
AE
AR
BH

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Gretha

Gretha is predominantly a girl's name.
Gretha is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈɡreɪθə/ (GRAY-thə); often pronounced /ˈɡreːta/ or /ˈɡreta/ (GREH-tah) in Germanic languages.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Greta, Grete, Grethe, Gretchen and Greet.
Across languages, Gretha has these equivalents: Margaret (English), Margarethe (German), Margareta (Scandinavian), Margarita (Spanish), Marguerite (French).
Yes — Gretha ranked #128 in Norway in 1969, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries.
Gretha ranks highest in Norway (#128 in 1969).
Gretha's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #111 in 1959 to #128 in 1969 in Norway.