Gretchen
A girls’ name of Germanic origin, meaning pearl; diminutive of Margaret.
Gretchen by the numbers
Gretchen was given to 119 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 1,350 babies in 1973, so it is a 1970s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Margaret
Like Gretchen, each of these traces back to Margaret: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Maisiepearl; a form of Margaret966 in England and Wales (2025)
- Gretapearl; short form of Margaret463 in the US (2017)
- Marjoriepearl; a form of Margaret277 in the US (2017)
- Margopearl; a form of Margaret120 in England and Wales (2025)
- Meghanpearl; a form of Margaret162 in the US (2017)
- Maziepearl; a form of Margaret or Mazal124 in the US (2017)
- Peggypearl; a form of Margaret73 in England and Wales (2025)
- Magalypearl; a form of Margaret58 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Gretchen. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean wealth
Like Gretchen, each of these has wealth in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Maddoxfortunate, beneficent; son of Madoc3,119 in the US (2017)
- Jadejade stone; symbol of virtue and beauty2,765 in the US (2017)
- Margaretpearl; precious gem2,242 in the US (2017)
- Maggiepearl; a form of Margaret271 in England and Wales (2025)
- Gemmagem or jewel1,241 in the US (2017)
- Margotpearl1,230 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Gretchen
Nobody has voted for Gretchen yet
Vote for Gretchen and put it up against all the other baby names
Vote for Gretchen