Home / Name Directory / Gretchen
How Many People Are Named Gretchen?
Estimated people named Gretchen living in the U.S. today
40,157
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 53,806
- Peak year: 1973 (1,350 births)
- Estimated living today: 40,157
Gretchen by age group — who carries the name today?
Gretchen popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Gretchen
Gretchen has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 53,806 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 40,157 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 8,512 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Gretchens you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Gretchen in the US?
An estimated 40,157 people named Gretchen are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Gretchen rare — about 1 in 8,512 Americans.
Is Gretchen a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Gretchen is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Gretchen most popular?
Gretchen peaked in 1973, when 1,350 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Gretchen?
Gretchen ranks #1,040 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 46 out of 100 (higher means rarer).