Gretchen Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gretchen is a German name derived from the Greek word for 'pearl', evolving from Margarete to its current form. It carries connotations of delicacy and charm, with a notable presence in literature. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name. Although its popularity has waned in modern times, it continues to evoke a sense of tradition and warmth.
The name Gretchen is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gretchen has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gretchen' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6723rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6919th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 502nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 369th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 333rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 258th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 527th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 866th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1878th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gretchen' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gretchen"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡrɛtʃən/
Origin
German
Etymology
Gretchen is a diminutive form of the name Margarete, which itself is derived from the Greek word 'margaritēs', meaning 'pearl'.
Meaning
little pearl
Language Evolution
Margarete, Greta, Gretchen
Historical Usage
The name Gretchen became popular in Germany during the 18th century, particularly through literary works, including Goethe's 'Faust', where the character Gretchen plays a central role.
Variants & Derivatives
Greta, Gretl, Margarete
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Gretchen is often associated with a quaint, traditional image, and while it is less common in contemporary usage, it retains a nostalgic charm.
Famous People
Gretchen Mol, Gretchen Carlson, Gretchen Whitmer
Explore More Gretchen Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gretchen"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gretchen"
"Gretchen" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6723rd of 7552 | 10 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6919th of 10718 | 28 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 502nd of 9107 | 3,346 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 369th of 9204 | 6,130 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 333rd of 12526 | 13,397 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 258th of 19264 | 17,546 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 527th of 27321 | 6,976 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 866th of 35406 | 4,604 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1878th of 30306 | 1,299 |
Regional Popularity of "Gretchen" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gretchen" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
22.39% 317th/1416 |
33.07% 456th/1379 |
40.91% 968th/2366 |
53.68% 613th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.78% 244th/1546 |
19.09% 297th/1556 |
28.81% 678th/2353 |
19.91% 308th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
11.90% 265th/2227 |
11.65% 283rd/2430 |
16.93% 483rd/2853 |
11.53% 320th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
6.44% 189th/2937 |
6.00% 209th/3483 |
9.78% 344th/3518 |
7.22% 292nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
8.93% 329th/3685 |
10.21% 457th/4475 |
13.46% 699th/5194 |
11.38% 719th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
11.22% 514th/4582 |
16.50% 852nd/5164 |
16.89% 1235th/7313 |
16.47% 1229th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
29.04% 1157th/3984 |
45.58% 2045th/4487 |
38.57% 2631st/6822 |
38.29% 2403rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gretchen"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gretchen" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.