Declining since 2017, #3,832 for girls today.
Popularity of Grettel since 1993
Babies named Grettel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 100 |
| 2010s | 587 |
| 2020s | 384 |
Meaning & origin
Grettel first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1993, and its usage grew steadily through the 2000s before reaching its highest rank of 3832 in 2018. Since 2017, however, the name has been on a declining trajectory, with only about 1 in 42,297 girls receiving it in 2025. The name remains most popular in California and Texas, states with large German-American populations. Grettel is a spelling variant of Gretel, best known from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, though direct literary influence on its modern usage is unclear. Its similarity to the more common Greta gives it a familiar yet distinctive sound, appealing to parents drawn to vintage European names.
Grettel is a variant of Greta, which is a diminutive of Margaret, itself derived from the Greek margarites meaning 'pearl'. The name entered European languages through Saint Margaret, and the Germanic -el suffix creates a familiar form. Usage as an independent given name emerged primarily in German-speaking regions and spread to English-speaking countries.
Where Grettel is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gret, Gretta, Ettel
Sibling names for Grettel
Names that share Grettel's style, for a brother or sister.
