US Popularity Rank: 5738

Origin: German

Meaning: Pearl

If you’re looking for a polished name for your little gem, you may have just stumbled upon a perfect fit. Gretel is a German name, meaning “pearl.” The feminine title is a variant of Greta, with the pair deriving from the Greek Margaret. We all know the tale of Hansel and Gretel, and while it may seem pretty dark, there’s a valuable lesson in it for every child to learn. Defeating the villain and leading her pal to justice, the story’s Gretel is a perfect figure of girl-power to inspire this little one. She may be after the sweeter things in life, but some guidance from you can teach Gretel the right way to get it.