Gretchen Name Meaning and Origin

Gender: Girl
Origin: German
Meaning: Pearl
Popularity: Not in the U.S. top 1,000 names

Gretchen Name Meaning and Origin

Gretchen is a charming, vintage German name with a sweet, playful vibe. It’s actually a diminutive of the name Margarete, which is derived from the Greek word margaritēs, meaning “pearl.” So, in a way, a Gretchen is a little “pearl.” It became especially popular in German-speaking countries and later gained fame in English-speaking ones, thanks to its literary presence—perhaps most notably in Goethe’s classic Faust, where the character Gretchen is central to the story. In terms of gender, Gretchen is traditionally feminine, and it continues to evoke a sense of elegance and classic beauty.