Of Greek origin.
Gretel is a German diminutive of the name Margaret.
Associated with the name Grete, also a German and Scandinavian diminutive of Margaret.
Margaret derives from the Greek word “μαργαρίτης” (margarites), meaning “pearl”.
Pearls are highly symbolic gemstones.
They are valued since antiquity and the difficulty of obtaining them magnified this value, especially in old times.
Another reason for their great symbolic value from the past is that pearls are formed by living organisms such as oysters or mussels.
They were believed to attract wealth and luck. They were offered for children’s protection and in time they were considered as symbols of purity, calmness, and loyalty.
Gretel is a name known by association with the character from Brothers Grimm’s fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”.
“Hansel and Gretel” is an old German fairy tale recorded by Brothers Grimm and published in 1812.
The siblings manage to escape from a witch that has abducted them.
There are several versions of the story. According to researchers, this fairytale may be associated with older stories from the Medieval Ages and the Great Famine.
The fairy tale has inspired one of the most popular German operas “Hänsel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Other forms of the name are Grete, Margaret, Margarita, Marguerite, Grethe, Margit, Mette, Rita, Gretchen, Margherita, Maggie, Margie, Margo, May, Meg, etc.
Gretel has never entered the top-1000 of the U.S.A. popularity lists.