Nicknames for Grandparents: Beyond Grandma & Grandpa
Exploring nicknames for grandparents is one of the first exciting steps in your new role. But what if you're not sure what you want to be called? We'll help you navigate this important choice with practical steps and real stories from other grandparents who have been right where you are.
Choosing nicknames for grandparents isn’t easy for everyone
How do you choose your grandparent names? Sometimes it’s an easy choice.
Janet always knew she wanted to be called Grandma when the day came. “I have such warm memories of my own grandmother, and sharing that name with her feels like the best way to honor her.”
Tony opted for Nonno, as his family has always called the grandfathers in his Italian family. “I’m proud of our heritage and can’t imagine using any other name.” His wife, Evelyn, isn’t Italian, but loves the idea of being a Nonna, the traditional Italian name for grandmother.
Lisa was looking for young grandma names when she and Steve became grandparents. “We’re going to go by Lolli and Pop! Isn’t that the cutest?”
But then there are people like Alice, who had never thought about her grandmother nickname. She didn’t feel like a “Grandma” and her own mother, who is still alive and active, goes by Nana. None of the grandmother names she’s come across feel right. She figures she’ll wait until her grandson, now just a month old, christens her.
Her daughter, however, has pointed out how awkward her indecision is. “I’m sure he’ll come up with something, but what am I supposed to call her in the meantime? Do I just refer to her as ‘my mother’ and hope he someday magically invents a name that she likes?”
Which brings us to the question: how do you choose a grandparent name when you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to be called? If you want a cool sounding grandpa name, or a name for a young grandma?
There are so many different names for grandfather and grandmother! This is such a big event in your life, and deciding which is the best nickname can seem like a momentous decision.
How to choose your grandparent name
Here’s our best advice: find a good, long list of nicknames for grandparents—like the ones below. Once you have your list, print it out. Then follow these steps:
Go through your list of grandma and grandpa names and put a line through the names you know you don't want to be called. You’ll be able to eliminate a lot of them easily and narrow down the field quickly.
Now that you’ve crossed off a bunch of names, go through the list a second time. This time, circle the names that you like the sound of.
Look through all the names you've circled. Is there a pattern? Perhaps you like more unique names for grandparents, or ones that start with a certain letter. Maybe the traditional nicknames for grandma spark more joy than the more unusual ones do.
Pick your top 5-7, then say those names out loud. Which ones feel natural?
Once you've narrowed it down to just a couple, ask a friend to call you by those names and see how they feel when someone else says them.
Run them by your grandchild’s parents and see if they have any preference or objection. Remember, they’ll be stuck having to use this name, too. If they squirm when you announce you’d like to be called Granddude, consider their feelings.
Don’t get too attached to the name you’ve chosen. Once he or she starts talking, your grandchild is likely to come up with a different name for you.
Beyond choosing your grandparent name
Remember that choosing nicknames for grandparents is just a tiny part of preparing for your important new role! There are lots of other things to think about as you become a grandparent, and we are here to help at More Than Grand. Make sure to sign up for our email series “5 Secrets Every New Grandparent Needs to Know” and continue to explore our blog!
242 Grandma Names
The following list of grandmother names includes a wide range of suggestions, from young grandma names to more traditional ones. Which one will you choose? Download this list.
Abba
Alba
Ama
A-May
Amba
Ami, Aimee
Amma
Ammy
Babe
Babo
Bacca
Bama, Bamma
Bamaw, Bammaw
Bamba
Bebe
Bella
Belle or Bella
Big Mama
Birdie
BonBon
Bubbie
CeCe, CiCi, CC, Cee Cee
Coco
Dally
DaMa, Dama, Dammaw
Dandy
Eema, Eemaw, Ema
Fammy
Fancy
Fo-Ma, Faux Ma
Foxy
G
G.M.
Gada
Gadgee, Gadgi, Gadgy
GaGa, Gagga
GaMa, Gamma
Gammi, Gammy, Gami,
Gammie
Gams
GandyMom
GanGan
Gangy, GanGee
Ganna
Ganni, Ganny, Gani
G-Dawg
Geeda, Geda
GeeMa
GeezerGirl
GG
Ginja
Gita
Glamama
Glamma
Glammy
G-ma
G-Mom
Gogi
Go-Go
Gommie, Gommy
Gram
Gramma, Grama
Grammar
Grammie, Grammy
Gramommie
Grams or Gramms
Gran
Grana
Granan
Granana
Grananny
Grandama
Grandgran
Grandma
Grandmama
Grandmom
Grandmother
Grandnan
Grandy, Grandi, GranDee
Granette
Grani, Granni, Granee
Granita
Granma
Granmama
Granmanny
Granmom
Granna
Grannie, Granny
Graylor
Grea, Greah
Gumma
Gummy
Hamma
Honey
Jamma
Kitty
Lala
Lally
Layla
Leelo, Lilo
Lela
Lola
Lolly, Lolli
M’dear
Magga
Mamaw, Mammaw
Mamey
Mammy,Mami, Mammi
Mams
Manni
Marmi, Marme
MawMaw
MayMay
Maymee
Mayna
Maysi
MeeMee, MeMe, MiMi
Meemer
MeMa, Meema, MeMaw,
Mimaw
MeMo, MeeMo, Mimo
MeMom
Memot
Mia
Mimma
Mimmy, Mimsy
Minny, Mini
Modie
MoMa, MoMaw
MoMar
Mombo
Momette
MomMom
Mommoo
MoMo
Momsy
Mona
Monee
Mooma
Mum, Mums
Mumica
Mummers
Mumsy, Mumsey
MuMu
Muna
Nama, Namma
Nan
Nana, Nanna
Nanima
Nanny
Nano
Naunee
Necie
Neema
Nema
Ne-Ma
NeNe, NiNi
Nimo
Ninna
Ninny, Ninni
Nona, Nonna
Noma
Noni, NoNi, NoNee,
Nonni, Nonny
NotherMother
Ona, Onna
Onie
OtherMother
Pama
Pebbles
Pippa
Pippy
Poma, Pomma
Sugar
Sugie, Shugie
TeeMa
Uma, Umma
Vanna
Wela
Yama
Yana
YaYo
99 Grandpa Names
We couldn’t find as many suggestions for grandpa names, but here are as many as we could track down! Like the list of names for grandma, there are both traditional and modern, cool grandpa names. Download this list.
Ace
Api
Baba
Baboo
Bappy
Big Daddy
Big Pa
Bompa
Bonpa
Boomer
Bop
Boppa
Boppy
Boss
Bubba
Bubs
Buck
Buddy
Buster
Buzz
Buzzy
Captain
Chief
Coach
Daddio
Doc
Duke
G Pop
G/Gee
G-Da
G-Dad
G-Dog
Geepa/ Gee-paw
Geez
Goopa
Gopa
G-Pa
G-Pop
Grady
Grampa
Grampers
Gramps
Grampy
Grand Bear
Grandaddy
Grandbop
Granddad
Granddude
Granddude
Grandfather
Grandpappy
Grandsie
Grandy
Grumpa
Grumps
Grumpus
Grumpy
Gumpa
Gumps
Gus
King
Major
Pa
Pap
Pap Pap
Papa
Papi
Pappy
Paps
Papster
Papzie
Patri
Pawpaw/Paw-Paw
Peepaw
Peppy
Pip
Pippo
Pop Pop
Popdaddy
Popo
Poppi
Poppo
Poppy
Popsi
Popsicle
Popz
Professor
Rocky
Saint
Senior
Sir
Skipper
Grandparent names from around the world
If you have cultural ties to a different country or heritage, consider using one of these grandparent names from around the world.
Aboriginal Australian: Momu and Guman
Afrikaans: Ouma and Oupa
Apache: Adoc and Adoye
Arabic: Jadati/Teta and Jido
Basque: Amona and Aitona
Bengali: Thamma and Dadu (paternal), Dida and Dadu (maternal)
Cambodian/Khmer: Yiey and Ta
Cantonese Chinese: Maa maa and Yeh yeh (paternal), Po po and Gung gung (maternal)
Catalan: Àvia and Avi
Cherokee: Elisi and Edudi
Creole (Haitian): Grann and Granpè
Danish: Bedstemor and Bedstefar (also Mormor/Farmor and Morfar/Farfar)
Dutch: Oma and Opa
Farsi/Persian: Maman Bozorg and Baba Bozorg
Filipino: Lola and Lolo
Finnish: Isoäiti/Mummo and Isoisä/Ukki
French: Grand-mère/Mémé and Grand-père/Pépé
Galician: Avoa and Avó
German: Oma and Opa (informal), Großmutter and Großvater (formal)
Greek: Yiayia and Pappou
Gujarati: Ba and Bapuji
Hawaiian: Tutu Wahine and Tutu Kane
Hebrew/Israeli: Savta/Safta and Saba
Hindi: Dadi and Dada (paternal), Nani and Nana (maternal)
Icelandic: Amma and Afi
Indonesian: Nenek and Kakek
Irish: Maimeó/Mamó and Daideó
Italian: Nonna and Nonno
Japanese: Obaasan/Sobo and Ojiisan/Sofu
Korean: Halmeoni and Harabeoji
Lakota: Unci and Tunkasila
Lao: Yai and Pu
Luxembourgish: Boma and Bopa
Mandarin Chinese: Nai nai and Ye ye (paternal), Lao lao/Wai po and Lao ye/Wai gong (maternal)
Maori: Kuia and Koro
Mongolian: Emee and Övöö
Mohawk: Ohsota and Raksotha
Navajo: Amá Sání and Cheii
Nepali: Hajurma and Hajurba
Norwegian: Bestemor and Bestefar
Polish: Babcia and Dziadek
Portuguese: Avó/Vovó and Avô/Vovô
Punjabi: Dadiji and Dadaji (paternal), Naniji and Nanaji (maternal)
Russian: Babushka and Dedushka
Scottish Gaelic: Seanmhair and Seanair
Spanish: Abuela/Abuelita and Abuelo/Abuelito
Swahili: Bibi and Babu
Swedish: Mormor/Farmor and Morfar/Farfar
Swiss German: Grosi and Großvater
Tamil: Patti and Thatha
Thai: Yai and Ta (maternal), Ya and Pu (paternal)
Turkish: Babaanne and Dede (paternal), Anneanne and Büyükbaba (maternal)
Urdu: Dadi and Dada (paternal), Nani and Nana (maternal)
Vietnamese: Bà Ngoại and Ông Ngoại (maternal), Bà Nội and Ông Nội (paternal)
Welsh: Nain and Taid
Yiddish: Bubbe and Zayde
A note about the distinction between maternal and paternal grandparent names:
Many Asian and some other cultures have different terms for grandparents depending on whether they're from the mother's or father's side of the family. This distinction reflects traditional family structures and lineage systems. For example:
In Mandarin Chinese, "Nai nai and Ye ye" refer specifically to paternal grandparents (father's parents), while "Lao lao and Lao ye" are maternal grandparents (mother's parents). The prefix "Wai" (外) in terms like "Wai po" literally means "outside," reflecting how maternal relatives were traditionally considered outside the primary family line.
Similarly, Vietnamese uses "Nội" for paternal (inside/internal lineage) and "Ngoại" for maternal (outside/external lineage). Korean, Thai, Turkish, and many South Asian languages have similar distinctions, highlighting the historical importance of the male line in these cultures.
Some Nordic languages like Swedish also do this: "Mormor" literally means "mother's mother" while "Farmor" means "father's mother" (and similarly for grandfathers: "Morfar" and "Farfar").
Your grandparent journey starts here
While choosing the perfect grandparent nickname is exciting, it's just one small part of preparing for this new chapter in your life. There's so much to learn about modern parenting practices, building strong family relationships, and creating the kind of connection you dream of having with your grandchildren.
Ready to discover what experienced grandparents wish they'd known from the start? Sign up for our free email series “5 Secrets Every New Grandparent Needs to Know.” You'll receive tips that will help you navigate your new role starting today.
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