Grethel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	27	3	–	#1,371
1910s	128	13	+374%	#1,584
1920s	110	11	-14%	#2,011
1930s	52	5	-53%	#3,026
1940s	39	4	-25%	#3,281
1950s	11	1	-72%	#5,524
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	10	1	–	#8,719
1980s	5	1	-50%	#12,458
1990s	29	3	+480%	#10,130
2000s	45	5	+55%	#12,225
2010s	112	11	+149%	#7,930
2020s (to 2025)	62	10	-8%	#7,031

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

#1,371

1910s

128

+374%

#1,584

1920s

110

-14%

#2,011

1930s

-53%

#3,026

1940s

-25%

#3,281

1950s

-72%

#5,524

1960s

–

1970s

–

#8,719

1980s

-50%

#12,458

1990s

+480%

#10,130

2000s

+55%

#12,225

2010s

112

+149%

#7,930

2020s (to 2025)

-8%

#7,031

The story of Grethel

Grethel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #15,715 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1904, 630 American babies have been named Grethel. Its peak came in 1921, when 20 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Grethel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Grethel?

The median living Grethel is about 14 years old; half are between 7 and 30. An estimated 300 people named Grethel are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Grethel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#15,715
2024	10	#9,807
2023	16	#7,048
2022	9	#10,664
2021	6	#14,096
2020	16	#7,031
2019	13	#8,287
2018	7	#12,947
2017	11	#9,545
2016	6	#14,982
2015	12	#9,150
2014	12	#9,176
2013	14	#8,290
2012	14	#8,369
2011	15	#7,930
2010	8	#12,708
2009	6	#15,924
2008	6	#16,090
2007	7	#14,438
2006	8	#12,792
2005	8	#12,225
2004	–	–
2003	5	#16,641
2002	–	–
2001	5	#16,210
2000	–	–
1995	6	#12,301
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	6	#4,048
1935	–	–
1930	9	#3,170
1925	10	#3,208
1920	19	#2,034
1915	16	#1,996
1910	7	#2,015
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Grethel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Grethel?

The median living Grethel is about 14 years old. Half of all living Grethels are between 7 and 30 years old.

How many people named Grethel are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Grethel are alive in the United States, based on 630 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Grethel in 2025?

Grethel ranked #15,715 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Grethel?

630 babies have been named Grethel in the United States since 1904, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Grethel most popular?

Grethel peaked in 1921, when 20 newborns received the name.

Is Grethel a boy or girl name?

Grethel is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Grethel rising or falling?

Grethel has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Grethel

Grethel popularity over time

The story of Grethel

How old are people named Grethel?

Grethel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Grethel