Given name
Grethel
“resembling a pearl”
Grethel is a variant of Greta. One German interpretation is “resembling a pearl.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Grethel is a variant of Greta. One German interpretation is “resembling a pearl.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1904. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Grethel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 630
- 0 boys · 630 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 20 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #15,715 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 15,715 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 20 in 1921. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 732 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.
Grethel’s family of names
Grethel has a related form in Greta.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Grethel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ethel
“a noble woman” · “one who is noble”
>99% girls
Bethel
“of the house of God” · “the house of God”
4% boys · 96% girls
Jewell
“one who is playful; resembling a precious gem”
21% boys · 79% girls
Grayce
Grayce is a variant of Grace. As a name, Grace carries the word’s association with divine favour. Grace’s meaning comes from a vocabulary word rather than a compound of older personal names.
>99% girls
Erma
“one who is complete; universal”
>99% girls
Enid
“one who gives life”
>99% girls
Jewel
“one who is playful; resembling a precious gem”
4% boys · 96% girls
Muriel
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls