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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201999peak #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 1999

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #262 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,388 girlsMNIllinois: #407 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 2,253 girlsILWisconsin: #356 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,941 girlsWIMichigan: #632 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 4,275 girlsMINew York: #867 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 6,239 girlsNYMassachusetts: #753 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,273 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedRIOregon: #600 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,262 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: #365 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,964 girlsIAIndiana: #515 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,321 girlsINOhio: #456 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 2,930 girlsOHPennsylvania: #469 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 3,218 girlsPANew Jersey: #1,006 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 8,307 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #1,331 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 12,170 girlsCAUtah: #409 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,076 girlsUTColorado: #539 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,883 girlsCONebraska: #224 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 889 girlsNEMissouri: #602 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,180 girlsMOKentucky: #570 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,015 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedWVVirginia: #579 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,817 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedDEArizona: #951 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,090 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedARTennessee: #808 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,124 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #1,040 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 8,499 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #717 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,407 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Gretchen, so not publishedHITexas: #1,980 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 21,032 girlsTXFlorida: #1,606 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 14,943 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Nebraska#224 · 1 in 889
  2. Minnesota#262 · 1 in 1,388
  3. Wisconsin#356 · 1 in 1,941
  4. Iowa#365 · 1 in 1,964
  5. Illinois#407 · 1 in 2,253

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nebraska#22491 in 889
Minnesota#262181 in 1,388
Wisconsin#356131 in 1,941
Iowa#36571 in 1,964
Illinois#407311 in 2,253
Utah#40981 in 2,076
Ohio#456211 in 2,930
Pennsylvania#469181 in 3,218
Indiana#515101 in 3,321
Colorado#53981 in 2,883
Kentucky#57051 in 4,015
Virginia#57991 in 3,817
Oregon#60051 in 3,262
Missouri#60271 in 4,180
Michigan#632121 in 4,275
Louisiana#71751 in 4,407
Massachusetts#75351 in 6,273
Tennessee#80851 in 6,124
New York#867161 in 6,239
Arizona#95151 in 6,090
New Jersey#1,00651 in 8,307
North Carolina#1,04051 in 8,499
California#1,331181 in 12,170
Florida#1,60651 in 14,943
Texas#1,98071 in 21,032
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Maine———
Maryland———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
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 1999

girls
#745
301 births · 1 in 5,893 girls

Top girls' names in 1999

  1. #1Emily26,542
  2. #2Hannah21,679
  3. #3Alexis19,237
  4. #4Sarah19,119
  5. #5Samantha19,044
  6. #6Ashley18,136
  7. #7Madison18,054
  8. #8Taylor16,906
  9. #9Jessica16,350
  10. #10Elizabeth15,350
  11. #745Gretchen301
More about 1999

girls

1,773,823 girls got a published name in 1999; 1 in 5,893 of them was named Gretchen, which outranked 95.6% of the 16,947 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 10.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gretchen
  1. #741Maranda302
  2. #741Nayeli302
  3. #741Skyla302
  4. #745Gretchen301
  5. #745Dasia301
  6. #745Mariam301
  7. #748Jacklyn300
  8. #748Rocio300
  9. #750Ayana298

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1998
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,407Citlalli#2,338 → #931
  2. ↑ 1,329Noelia#2,048 → #719
  3. ↑ 1,060Amaya#1,458 → #398
  4. ↑ 864Kyara#1,789 → #925
  5. ↑ 604Journey#1,557 → #953
Fallers
  1. ↓ 579Erykah#779 → #1,358
  2. ↓ 417Tea#747 → #1,164
  3. ↓ 415Tasia#800 → #1,215
  4. ↓ 406Monika#930 → #1,336
  5. ↓ 357Chase#952 → #1,309

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

See the top 100 for 1999 →