Gretchen

#4,265 for girls in 2025, 33 births · Last seen for boys in 1980 at #5,525
Given to girls 99.9% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1973 · 1,351 births
Debut · girls
10 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
53,799
since 1882

Gretchen over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Gretchen has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201950peak #191, 1973girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#4,26533—
2024#3,45945—
2023#2,67465—
2022#3,12352—
2021#2,78461—
2020#2,59765—
2019#2,48271—
2018#2,02696—
2017#1,752120—
2016#1,380170—
2015#1,425162—
2014#1,261191—
2013#1,184203—
2012#1,206203—
2011#1,054234—
2010#1,101226—
2009#998265—
2008#953283—
2007#883316—
2006#777355—
2005#762349—
2004#886275—
2003#782316—
2002#812285—
2001#763313—
2000#743310—
1999#745301—
1998#747290—
1997#752283—
1996#722290—
1995#722283—
1994#738281—
1993#682320—
1992#683317—
1991#596377—
1990#628356—
1989#534430—
1988#588344—
1987#559359—
1986#512405—
1985#470451—
1984#404524—
1983#374596—
1982#325747—
1981#276895—
1980#271917#5,5256
1979#262930—
1978#251947—
1977#2381,044—
1976#1981,223—
1975#2091,175#3,6599
1974#1991,278#3,8378
1973#1911,351—
1972#2211,261—
1971#2241,347—
1970#2511,244#4,7245
1969#2631,106—
1968#293887—
1967#271968—
1966#269960—
1965#295906—
1964#294974—
1963#299962—
1962#2891,001—
1961#2851,044—
1960#306937—
1959#333812#3,9885
1958#350687—
1957#381565#3,9935
1956#369567—
1955#366575—
1954#367563—
1953#351578—
1952#342583—
1951#318618—
1950#329545—
1949#316608—
1948#303640—
1947#332570—
1946#309567—
1945#308493—
1944#302490—
1943#332448—
1942#321464—
1941#310441—
1940#289471—
1939#298420—
1938#285483—
1937#334350—
1936#362303—
1935#363301—
1934#372288—
1933#414240—
1932#430233—
1931#459198—
1930#500178—
1929#556152—
1928#520177—
1927#594142—
1926#593143—
1925#605144—
1924#669123—
1923#593149—
1922#588149—
1921#603144—
1920#625131—
1919#619128—
1918#523176—
1917#402246—
1916#357296—
1915#351288—
1914#380196—
1913#384158—
1912#397134—
1911#45980—
1910#40395—
1909#46366—
1908#46460—
1907#52147—
1906#45855—
1905#52842—
1904#49344—
1903#51439—
1902#60030—
1901#46741—
1900#45355—
1899#48037—
1898#49139—
1897#59426—
1896#45740—
1895#49335—
1894#59724—
1893#47332—
1892#56524—
1891#43034—
1890#48329—
1889#54322—
1888#59318—
1887#56016—
1886#69311—
1885#1,0475—
1884#9306—
1883#7547—
1882#59610—
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1882

The first year at least five girls were named Gretchen! It came in at #596, and was given to 10 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1883–1885, when fewer than 8 girls a year got the name.

Where Gretchen is popular in 1950

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedAKMaine: #193 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,273 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNHWashington: #191 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,236 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedIDMontana: #196 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,182 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #159 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 1,037 girlsMNIllinois: #322 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 3,345 girlsILWisconsin: #204 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,842 girlsWIMichigan: #244 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,218 girlsMINew York: #379 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 4,201 girlsNYMassachusetts: #248 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,943 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedRIOregon: #167 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 889 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedSDIowa: #197 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,539 girlsIAIndiana: #257 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,462 girlsINOhio: #212 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 1,774 girlsOHPennsylvania: #250 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 2,324 girlsPANew Jersey: #313 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 3,585 girlsNJConnecticut: #203 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,586 girlsCTCalifornia: #339 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 2,838 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedUTColorado: #264 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,816 girlsCONebraska: #185 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,325 girlsNEMissouri: #345 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,936 girlsMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: #354 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,819 girlsWVVirginia: #453 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 5,828 girlsVAMaryland: #276 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,534 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNMKansas: #233 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,794 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedARTennessee: #463 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,116 girlsTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #236 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,687 girlsDCOklahoma: #376 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,608 girlsOKLouisiana: #361 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,833 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedALGeorgia: #564 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 8,371 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedHITexas: #618 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 6,836 girlsTXFlorida: #497 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,657 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Minnesota#159 · 1 in 1,037
  2. Oregon#167 · 1 in 889
  3. Nebraska#185 · 1 in 1,325
  4. Washington#191 · 1 in 1,236
  5. Maine#193 · 1 in 1,273

Best ever in a state: #78 in Maine, 1974.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Minnesota#159321 in 1,037
Oregon#167171 in 889
Nebraska#185101 in 1,325
Washington#191201 in 1,236
Maine#19371 in 1,273
Montana#19651 in 1,182
Iowa#197181 in 1,539
Connecticut#203111 in 1,586
Wisconsin#204201 in 1,842
Ohio#212481 in 1,774
Kansas#233101 in 1,794
District of Columbia#23671 in 1,687
Michigan#244331 in 2,218
Massachusetts#248151 in 2,943
Pennsylvania#250441 in 2,324
Indiana#257171 in 2,462
Colorado#26481 in 1,816
Maryland#27691 in 2,534
New Jersey#313121 in 3,585
Illinois#322261 in 3,345
California#339401 in 2,838
Missouri#345101 in 3,936
West Virginia#35461 in 3,819
Louisiana#361121 in 2,833
Oklahoma#37661 in 3,608
New York#379341 in 4,201
Virginia#45361 in 5,828
Tennessee#46361 in 6,116
Florida#49751 in 5,657
Georgia#56451 in 8,371
Texas#618141 in 6,836
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kentucky———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Gretchen
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 806 spots since 2024 (#3,459 → #4,265)
  • 1,668 spots since 2020 (#2,597 → #4,265)
  • 2,840 spots since 2015 (#1,425 → #4,265)
  • Biggest jump: 354 spots in 1886 (#1,047 → #693)
  • Biggest drop: 176 spots in 1884 (#754 → #930)
Rise & fade · girls
91 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1882
  • Peaked 1973 at #191 (1,351 births)
  • Births halved by 1983, 10 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 127 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 127 yrs · run 1886–2009
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,079
  • Highest: 1 in 1,079 girls born in 1973 were named Gretchen (0.09%)
  • Latest: 1 in 48,705 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1970s
  • 21.9% of all girls named Gretchen (11,800) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s95#543 (1889)#715
1890s320#430 (1891)#506
1900s479#453 (1900)#496
1910s1,797#351 (1915)#428
1920s1,454#520 (1928)#595
1930s2,994#285 (1938)#382
1940s5,192#289 (1940)#312
1950s6,093#318 (1951)#351
1960s9,745#263 (1969)#286
1970s11,800#191 (1973)#224
1980s5,668#271 (1980)#431
1990s3,098#596 (1991)#702
2000s3,067#743 (2000)#836
2010s1,676#1,054 (2011)#1,487
2020s321#2,597 (2020)#3,150

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Gretchen in 1950

girls
#329
545 births · 1 in 3,143 girls

Top girls' names in 1950

  1. #1Linda80,433
  2. #2Mary65,481
  3. #3Patricia47,944
  4. #4Barbara41,556
  5. #5Susan38,017
  6. #6Nancy29,617
  7. #7Deborah29,063
  8. #8Sandra28,896
  9. #9Carol26,163
  10. #10Kathleen25,706
  11. #329Gretchen545
More about 1950

girls

1,713,054 girls got a published name in 1950; 1 in 3,143 of them was named Gretchen, which outranked 94.6% of the 6,109 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gretchen
  1. #326Janette551
  2. #327Noreen548
  3. #328Flora546
  4. #329Gretchen545
  5. #330Cheri544
  6. #330Erma544
  7. #332Eunice543
Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,242Mindy#2,013 → #771
  2. ↑ 649Geralyn#1,627 → #978
  3. ↑ 636Kyle#1,512 → #876
  4. ↑ 416Debrah#1,109 → #693
  5. ↑ 405Debbra#1,353 → #948
Fallers
  1. ↓ 241Luana#823 → #1,064
  2. ↓ 231Christene#930 → #1,161
  3. ↓ 216Pearline#785 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 210Ingrid#518 → #728
  5. ↓ 201Dayle#982 → #1,183

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1950 →