Message: "Gretchen" - Behind the Name

Gretchen

by Audra (grapefruit_girl)

6/2/2009, 12:25 PM

What do you think about the name Gretchen? It seems that a lot of people don't like this name, but I am beginning to like it. What are some combinations for Gretchen? What do you think about these?

Gretchen Bonnie
Gretchen Leigh
Gretchen Suzette

Thank you!

#Gretchen

Replies

- Lovely (vomiting)

6/2/2009, 5:19 PM

Love it! + combo ideas

I adore Gretchen!

Here are some ideas off the top of my head:

Gretchen Molly May
Gretchen Mary
Gretchen Lucy
Gretchen Lucinda
Gretchen Rosamonde
Gretchen Ellery
Gretchen Amelia
Gretchen Camille
Gretchen Daisy [is this too much due to the Margaret associations with both names?]

I chose names from your PNL and others I thought might be your style. :)

- Rachel Shaina (Evil)

6/2/2009, 3:45 PM

I don't really care for it. Would like to see it though.

Gretchen Adela
Gretchen Alexandra
Gretchen Amabel
Gretchen Amber
Gretchen Amore
Gretchen Claudia
Gretchen Emmeline
Gretchen Evadne
Gretchen Jacoba
Gretchen Lily
Gretchen Lorelei
Gretchen Louisa
Gretchen Lucine
Gretchen Lyric
Gretchen Magnolia
Gretchen Marie
Gretchen Meadow
Gretchen Olivette
Gretchen Olivia
Gretchen Pauline
Gretchen Penelope
Gretchen Piper
Gretchen Rose
Gretchen Sabrina
Gretchen Scholastica
Gretchen Sky
Gretchen Sophia
Gretchen Stephania
Gretchen Unity
Gretchen Urbana
Gretchen Verity
Gretchen Willow
Gretchen Zoey

Tell me if you like any. :)

- LoQuiero

6/2/2009, 3:35 PM

Just uuahh...

I don't see how this name can sound attractive at all, to be honest.
It sounds like a word, or like a disease, I don't know...
In German, it's just a cutesy nickname for Greta (or Margareta etc., anyway), and it sounds pretty cute for a little child, but in English it sounds uuaah to me ;), not like an attractive name at all.

I do love Bonnie and Leigh, however, but don't like Suzette. Susanna is cool as a mn, though.
I'd like Gretchen Bonnie and Gretchen Susanna(h). Gretchen Leigh doesn't flow, somehow, and the names don't really make a nice combo together, imo. Leigh makes it sounds so meaningless, somehow...
Gretchen Bonnie sounds too cute and not mature, however, but the combo itself is pretty nice.
Gretchen Susanna(h) would be like perfect, to me.
Or what about...

Gretchen Leanna
Gretchen Mariana
Gretchen Liv
Gretchen Winona
Gretchen Sibyl
Gretchen Celestine
Gretchen Marie
Gretchen Avelina
Gretchen Olivia
Gretchen Finola
Gretchen Sorrel
Gretchen Dorothea?

- Phoenix_Rising

6/2/2009, 2:24 PM

I think it's a really nice name. Of your combos, my favorite is Gretchen Leigh.

Gretchen Elaine
Gretchen Willow
Gretchen Helena
Gretchen Beatrix
Gretchen Hazel
Gretchen Melanie

- Kayla_christine

6/2/2009, 2:05 PM

It's been growing on me too. I like it, though a lot say it reminds them of retching.

- mafiosa +4

6/2/2009, 2:01 PM

I think it's very, very strange. I mean, it's not even a real name, it's a diminutive, and sounds terrible in English. Out of your combos, I like Gretchen Leigh, but Leigh is so fillerish. Gretchen Bonnie is nice, too. I'd go with that one.

- Lovely (vomiting) +3

6/2/2009, 5:32 PM

You're right in saying that it is a diminutive. However, it is as much a 'real' name as Lucinda is or Molly is [Lucy and Mary respectively]. Gretchen has been used enough as a given name for people to accept it as such. :)

- mafiosa +2

6/2/2009, 5:51 PM

Yes, maybe in English-speaking countries. In Germany it's like calling your daughter "Little Greta". Diminutives like -chen and -lein at the end of names just aren't used oficially.

- Lovely (vomiting) +1

6/2/2009, 6:52 PM

You're right. :)

It wouldn't be my style either to use a diminutive normally [at least not on a real child] but it's common enough to get away with. The OP doesn't appear to be German.

- mafiosa

6/2/2009, 6:58 PM

Yes, I guess it does work in English-speaking countries. It's been on America's top #1000 forever after all (though it's close to dropping out, I just noticed!). It just sounds weird to a German. :)

- Domestic Engineer (Lisa007)

6/2/2009, 1:44 PM

It sounds too similar to wretched, so I always think of something horrid when I hear the name.

Out of the ones you have listed, I like Gretchen Suzette the best.

- Llewella (penguiny7)

6/2/2009, 1:43 PM

Love it!

I think it has a beautiful sound.

Gretchen Bonnie is kind of cute. I don't like the other two combos. Leigh is too generic and I don't like the sound of Suzette paired with Gretchen.

- Ailis

6/2/2009, 1:24 PM

I love Gretchen! But, only with the German pronunciation :). (The English one is ugly, imo). Out of your combos I love Gretchen Bonnie the most.
Some other combos:

Gretchen Brigh
Gretchen Estelle
Gretchen Isla
Gretchen Iona
Gretchen Isis
Gretchen Ismene
Gretchen Clarimonde
Gretchen Lilliard
Gretchen Luna
Gretchen Milla
Gretchen Nimue
Gretchen Viola
Gretchen Romy

Like any?

- Dragon_Clarinet +1

6/2/2009, 12:59 PM

I happen to like it a lot, too.

Gretchen Violette (vee-oh-LETTE)
Gretchen Meredith
Gretchen Marsaili (MAHR-sah-lee)
Gretchen Ceridwen (kare-ID-wen)
Gretchen Llewella
Gretchen Renée
Gretchen Sophronia
Gretchen Liora

- Audra (grapefruit_girl)

6/2/2009, 7:14 PM

I really love Gretchen Meredith. It would be perfect as my sister's name is Meredith, and maybe the name could stay in the family! nice.

- Danielle (guest)

6/2/2009, 12:53 PM

I don't like this name very much (I prefer Greta), but my DH loves it. My fave of your combos is Gretchen Leigh. It sounds earthy, but still fairly feminine.

- Celetari

6/2/2009, 12:36 PM

I like the name Gretchen; I used it for a character in a story once. I agree that of your combinations, Gretchen Leigh is the prettiest.

- Avery Virginia

6/2/2009, 12:34 PM

I happen to know a 4 year old little girl named Gretchen and think the name is adorable. I would pair it with a light, feminine middle name. Of yours, Gretchen Leigh sounds the best to me.

- Peacemonger

6/2/2009, 12:31 PM

I'm not crazy about the name but I would maybe use it as a middle name.

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