Given name
Grete
“resembling a pearl”
Grete is a variant of Greta. One German interpretation is “resembling a pearl.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Grete is a variant of Greta. One German interpretation is “resembling a pearl.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Grete is a short form of Margaret. Margaret has been associated with Greek and Hebrew naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Grete is a diminutive of Margarete. Grete is a short form of Margarete.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1927. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Grete through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 61
- 0 boys · 61 girls
- Most popular year
- 1981
- 7 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2002. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 7 in 1981. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 339 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Grete’s family of names
Grete is a short form of Margaret. In German usage, Grete has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Rita. In German usage, Grete has a conventional equivalent in the English form Peggy.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Grete has relatives in 15 languages.
27 related names in 15 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 23
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Grete
- Grete WaitzNorwegian marathon runner and former world record holder (1953–2011)
- Grete SternGerman-Argentine photographer (1904-1999)
- Grete Ingeborg NykkelmoNorwegian cross country skier and biathleteborn 1961
- Grete MostnyAustrian anthropologist and archaeologist (1914-1991)
- Grete FaremoNorwegian jurist and politicianborn 1955
- Grete Rosenbergswimmer (1896–1979)
- Grete BergerGerman Jewish actress murdered in the Holocaust (1883-1944)
- Grete HeckscherDanish fencer (1901–1987)
- Grete TreierEstonian sport cyclist (born 1977)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Grete, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Brie
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Kristel
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Kristin
“follower of Christ”
3% boys · 97% girls
Evelia
“giver of life; a lively woman”
>99% girls
Brandi
“a woman wielding a sword; an alcoholic drink”
>99% girls
Candace
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Joi
“a delight; one who brings pleasure to others”
>99% girls
Adrienne
“man from Hadria” · “a man from Hadria”
1% boys · 99% girls