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Grethel as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Grethel

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The baby name Grethel is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Common: /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GRET-əl). German: /ˈɡʁeːtəl/ (GREH-tel). Note: 'th' typically pronounced like /t/..

Grethel is German in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: German
Pronunciation: Common: /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GRET-əl). German: /ˈɡʁeːtəl/ (GREH-tel). Note: 'th' typically pronounced like /t/.

What is the meaning of the name Grethel ?

The baby name Grethel is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Common: /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GRET-əl). German: /ˈɡʁeːtəl/ (GREH-tel). Note: 'th' typically pronounced like /t/..

Grethel is German in Origin.

Grethel is a German pet form of Margarete, essentially a variant spelling of Gretel. It descends from Greek margarites, meaning 'pearl.' The -el diminutive in German conveys affection; the inserted h reflects older regional or Anglicized orthography. Spellings like Grethel appear in 18th–19th-century records and in early English renderings of fairy tales, preserving the same pronunciation while giving the name a quaint, literary look.

The name gained wider recognition through the Grimm tale often titled Hansel and Grethel in Victorian editions, which carried it into English-speaking usage. While rare today, it retains a vintage, storybook charm. Related forms include Gretel, Gretl, Grete, Greta, and Gretchen; the root name and cognates are Margarete, Margareta, Margaret, Margarita, and Margherita. Across traditions, the meaning remains 'pearl,' evoking purity, resilience, and something treasured.

Grethel has the following similar or variant Names

Grethel – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
PH 0 #109 2 5,607
PA 0 #134 5 3,797
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
EE Girls 0 #140 3 1,888
CR 0 #149 10 5,526
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
CR Girls 0 #279 298 11,342
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
PE 0 #322 8 6,350
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
MX 0 #401 13 8,339
PH Girls 0 #424 6 13,098
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
PA Girls 0 #435 47 9,861
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
ZA 0 #473 2 14,421
GT Girls 0 #478 28 7,500
UY Girls 0 #500 11 6,731
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
CO 0 #508 3 7,768
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
KW Girls 0 #555 7 19,177
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
BO Girls 0 #596 16 9,488
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
Finland Girls 2026 #730 9 3,895
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
CL Girls 0 #833 19 14,098
PE Girls 0 #846 98 14,861
United States Girls 2024 #907 10 8,487
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
Spain Girls 0 #956 28 5,561
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,010 5 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,032 2 16,355
CO Girls 0 #1,039 40 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,073 111 17,781
ZA Girls 0 #1,233 4 25,928
IT Girls 0 #1,401 46 9,415

Grethel is popular in 33 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
AE
BH
BO
CL

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People also ask about Grethel

Grethel is predominantly a girl's name.
Grethel is a 2 syllable name, pronounced Common: /ˈɡrɛtəl/ (GRET-əl). German: /ˈɡʁeːtəl/ (GREH-tel). Note: 'th' typically pronounced like /t/..
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Gretel, Grete, Greta, Gretchen, Grettel and Grette.
Somewhat — Grethel ranked #730 in Finland in 2026, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries, placing it just outside the most common names.
Grethel ranks highest in Finland (#730 in 2026).
Grethel's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #921 in 2014 to #907 in 2024 in United States.