How Many People Are Named Gretchen?
Complete statistics for the name Gretchen: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Gretchen is a German diminutive of Margaret, meaning 'little pearl,' and it carries a distinctly mid-century American feel. About 42,424 people named Gretchen are living in the US today, making it a rare find at just 1 in 7,779 Americans. The name hit its stride in the early 1970s and has been fading ever since, so if you meet one, she's probably not young.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 8 is traditionally associated with ambition, authority, and material achievement. People under this number are often seen as natural leaders with a strong drive to build lasting success in the world.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 60All 53,806 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1973Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Gretchen Through the Generations
Gretchen had its moment firmly in the past. With 53,806 all-time US births and around 42,424 still living, the gap is relatively modest, which makes sense given the average age is 60 and most bearers are still alive. The age breakdown tells the real story: 45% of all living Gretchens are over 60, and only about 5,903 are under 30. That's a name concentrated almost entirely in the baby boomer and older gen-X generations. The peak came in 1973, when 1,350 babies were named Gretchen in a single year. Since then it's been a steady decline, and today's birth numbers are a trickle compared to that high point. It sits in an interesting middle ground, neither a dusty antique nor a modern invention, but it skews so heavily older that a young Gretchen would genuinely stand out. The trend shows no signs of reversing.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Gretchen
Gretchen is a female given name of German origin that is most prevalent in the United States.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Gretchen's German roots
📄 About the Name Gretchen
How Many People Have the Name Gretchen?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 156 people in the United States currently share the name Gretchen. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,124,675 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Gretchen a Common or Rare Name?
Gretchen is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Gretchen Mean?
Gretchen means "little pearl" and comes from German origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Gretchen in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Gretchen Most Popular?
The name Gretchen reached peak popularity in 1973, with 1,350 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Gretchen?
Approximately 156 people named Gretchen live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 156. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,124,675 Americans.
Is Gretchen a rare name?
Gretchen is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,124,675 Americans has this name.
What does the name Gretchen mean?
Gretchen means "little pearl" and comes from German origins.
Is Gretchen more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Gretchen are male and 100% are female.
When was Gretchen most popular?
Gretchen peaked in 1973 with 1,350 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.