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I don't like it at all.
I'm fluent in German, therefore it sounds rather ridiculous to me. At least, as a german name.
As an english Name, I don't like the pronunciation.

This message was edited 5/28/2023, 11:48 AM

I like it. It makes me think of Gretchen from Mean Girls. Because of this it doesn't really have an ugly or unpopular image to me that some people have. A bit "spicy" but not Nerdy or anything.

I don’t dislike the name. I simply prefer other variants to it, like Greta. Greta is adorable and “round” but Gretchen feels a bit more “sharp” or “jagged”.

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That being said, Gretchen from Recess was a great character and I will forever associate the name with her.

I like it. I don't know how much I'd like it, if I had not ever known a Gretchen who I really liked, which I did. I might have become distracted by the "retch" sound if I hadn't had Gretchen around to associate the name with. Anyway, I do think it's a good name.

This message was edited 5/28/2023, 11:27 AM

It's pretty ordinary here in South Africa, but dated. I don't mind it at all, but I'd have no good reason to use it instead of, say, Margaret. I prefer Gretchen to Greta and Gretel, but I don't mind them either.

I like it

I love it. If I had to change my name, I would choose Gretchen. I think it's lovely.

I think it has a very hard-edged, guttural, Germanic sound that hasn't been in fashion for a very long time, if it ever really was in the US. However, it is fairly familiar and not obscure.
I don't like it enough to ever want to use it for myself or anyone else, but I think it has a certain charm to it. (Also, I know someone with a dachshund named Gretchen.)