Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Gretel

34 replies

17caterpillars1mouse · 26/08/2017 10:16

Yes? No? Thoughts? Too strongly associated with Hanson?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
FrancisCrawford · 27/08/2017 08:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TestTubeTeen · 27/08/2017 07:39

It's lovely.

gigi556 · 27/08/2017 05:31

First thought was the youngest von trapp. Very cute. Love it!

Gremlinothefirst · 27/08/2017 05:03

Greta is lovely. Wish I'd thought of it!

Gretel is ok but a bit harsh sounding and too reminiscent of Hansel for me.

Gretchen is just awful... reminds me of the word retching Shock

WildCherryBlossom · 27/08/2017 03:09

I love Greta, somehow much softer than Gretel. My youngest daughter won't let me use the name Gretel when I read Hansel & Gretel. She actually covers her ears when I say it, finding it too harsh sounding. She asks me to call the character Rose instead.

Hmmalittlefishy · 27/08/2017 02:29

Greta and gretel are lovely
Don't like gretchen it reminds me of gretchen wieners from mean girls and sounds like wretching/wretched

Sophronia · 27/08/2017 02:26

I prefer Greta.

buttercup54321 · 27/08/2017 00:06

Terrible. Don't do it.

CaoNiMartacus · 26/08/2017 22:03

Greta and Gretel are pretty.

Gretchen has to be the ugliest collection of syllables ever!

bridgetreilly · 26/08/2017 20:51

I like it, though I would spell it Gretl. I also love Liesl.

GimbleInTheWabe · 26/08/2017 16:53

I used to work as a nursery assistant when I was 18 and there was a stunning little girl with the brightest blue eyes who was called Gretel and I've loved the name since. I say - go for it!

hollyisalovelyname · 26/08/2017 16:48

Lovely
Reminds me of the cute child in The Sound Of Music.
I don't like Greta ( it's an older lady name in Ireland)
Gretchen is harsh sounding.

Chocachoo · 26/08/2017 16:41

I love Gretel!!! I've never associated Hansel with it, just the youngest from Sound of Music - no bad thing as she was soo cute!

ChinkChink · 26/08/2017 15:13

Isn't it spelt Gretl in Sound of Music?

I like it, anyway. Greta alters the vowel sound and makes it harsher to my ears.

I like Liesl and what about Verena [Vreni] and Bethli?

NipperNapNope · 26/08/2017 15:10

No from me. It's just too harsh. No fun for the poor kid when they read the story in school either. Greta isn't as bad although.

grufallosfriend · 26/08/2017 15:10

Greta is ok. But Gretel or Gretchen are really awful (imo).

early30smum · 26/08/2017 15:06

Not for me. I do like Greta, and LOVE Liesel.

MikeUniformMike · 26/08/2017 14:36

I don't like Gretchen. Gretel is OK but prefer Greta.

bounce2006 · 26/08/2017 13:05

Not sure why but it reminds me of a monster. I personally don't like it.

MammieBear · 26/08/2017 11:39

Very sweet name, I like Gretchen too. It's a nickname for Margaret in Germany. ♥

Fekko · 26/08/2017 11:32

I like Heidi myself.

Liadain · 26/08/2017 11:31

Agree with above, Liesel and Greta are a lot better (please, not Gretchen).

Gretel is just very Hans Christian Anderson.

Threeandabit · 26/08/2017 11:18

I like it. I like Greta too.

indigo13 · 26/08/2017 10:53

I love it and theres nothing wrong with the hansel or von trapp connotations

RebornSlippy · 26/08/2017 10:46

No, not for me sorry. I could never hear 'Gretel' without immediately looking around for Hansel.

I have a similar reaction to Heidi though so maybe it's just me. Some names are just set down in the memories of children's stories imo.