Derived from the Germanic elements 'grei' meaning 'gray' and 'hiltja' meaning 'battle', Gretel is a unique and timeless female given name. It was popularized in Germany through the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel', first published in 1812, but its roots extend back to ancient times.
The name Gretel has seen a significant rise in popularity over time, with a total of 1416 babies named Gretel from 1915 to 2023. While the name experienced some fluctuation in its popularity during the early and mid-20th century, it reached its peak in recent years, with 68 births in 2022 alone.