Grethe
Fact sheet
- Name
- Grethe
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
The name Grethe is a feminine short form of Margarethe and is used in Danish and Norwegian variants as Margrethe.
What does the name Grethe mean?
Grethe is derived from Margarethe and means 'the pearl'. The origin of the name can be traced back to the ancient Greek word margarites and the Latin margarita, both meaning 'pearl'. Variants include Greet, Greeta, Greetje, Gret, Greta, Gretchen, Gretel, Greth, Grethe, Gretje, Griet, Grietje, Grit, and Gritt. Notable bearers of the name include Danish singer and actress Grethe Sønck and German actress Grethe Weiser.
Where does the name Grethe come from?
The name Grethe has its origins as a short form of Margarethe in the Latin word margarita (pearl), which in turn goes back to the ancient Greek margarites. The ancient Greek word margarites means 'pearl' and has its roots in Persian. The languages in which Grethe appears include Old German, Danish, German, Norwegian, and other Scandinavian languages.
How do you pronounce Grethe?
The pronunciation of Grethe is balanced and two syllables: 'Gre-the' [ˈɡʁeːtə]. The long initial vowel is complemented by a softly sounding ending syllable, and the final '-e' slightly softens the hardness of the stem. Grethe sounds friendly and has a Nordic character - calm, clear, and pleasantly reserved.
When is the name day of Grethe?
The main name days for Grethe are July 20, dedicated to Saint Margareta of Antioch, and October 29, dedicated to Blessed Margarete of Hohenfels.
Popularity
In Germany, Grethe is a common first name. In 2023, it ranked 3,880th on the list of the most popular female baby names. Its best ranking was 3,816th in 2013. In the last ten years, Grethe has been chosen as a first name about 30 times, placing it 5,157th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,733rd.
Famous people
- Anne Grethe Jensen (Danish equestrian)
- Grethe Auer (Russian writer)
- Grethe Holmer (actress from Denmark)
- Grethe Ingmann (singer from Denmark)
- Grethe Jürgens (painter from Germany)
- Grethe Kausland (actress from Norway)
- Grethe Nestor (writer from Norway)
- Grethe Sonck (Danish actress)
- Grethe Thordahl (actress from Denmark)
- Grethe Toennesen (Norwegian handball player)
- Grethe Weiser (German actress, lived from 1903-1970)
Frequently asked questions about the name Grethe
What is the origin of the name Grethe?
The name Grethe originally comes as a short form of Margarethe and is derived from the Latin word margarita, which means 'pearl'. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Greek, where margarites also means 'pearl'.
What does the name Grethe mean?
Grethe means 'the pearl'. This meaning goes back to the ancient Greek and Latin root words margarites and margarita.
How popular is the name Grethe?
The popularity of the name Grethe varies by region and culture. In Scandinavian countries, it is traditionally common, while it is less frequently encountered in other parts of Europe.