55 Grandma Names to Choose From
Learning you’re about to become a grandmother is pretty exciting. Congratulations! There are lots of big milestones and sweet memories ahead—and also some big decisions. Chief among them: Choosing your grandmother name! There’s always the traditional choice of “Grandma,” but lots of matriarchs are choosing alternative grandmother names to go by instead. Need help brainstorming some options? Keep reading for standout grandma name ideas, whether you’re hoping for something classic, sweet or ultra-cool.
In recent years, many women have opted to go by something other than “Grandma” once their first grandchild comes along. A quick internet search will lead to scores of bloggers writing about how they chose their grandmother name—including some celebrities, such as Katie Couric, who opted for the grandma nickname “Gogo.” But why have different names for grandmas been on the rise?
According to The New York Times, a big factor is that the word “grandma” may be associated with old age. Many modern-day grandmothers feel like the traditional term doesn’t align with how they feel physically and mentally. It’s true that in more recent years, the way society looks at aging has shifted. Plus, studies show that people above the age of 65 are more active now than they have been in decades past. It makes sense that today’s grandmas are coming up with their own nicknames for grandma that feel more authentic to their personalities.
There are plenty of cute grandmother names out there, but you’re going to want to take a few things into account when choosing the right one for you. What best suits your personality? Is there a regional favorite you’d like to stick with? Perhaps you’d prefer a grandmother name from a different language that honors your family’s cultural heritage? Has your family has been using the same traditional name passed down from generation to generation? You might decide to keep the name or use it as inspiration for a more unique grandmother name.
Another thing to consider: Baby’s pronunciation! Odds are, whatever name you pick, baby will have their own special way of pronouncing it—at least in those first few years—and your grandmother name may transform into something different. So whether you choose to take on a traditional name or adopt a new one, don’t stress too much about your selection. Go with the one you’re most excited to hear your grandchild utter one day.
My husband and I have called my mom 'Grandma' when referring to her, talking to her either in person, on FaceTime or looking at her picture. At 20 months old, our daughter started calling her 'Mongie' and that’s now her name.
There’s something to be said for sticking with tradition. But even if you like the idea of a classic grandmother name, there are plenty of small tweaks that can make it feel special for you and your family. Many of the options below can be spelled several different ways, and some of them are simple enough for toddlers to say.
- Grandmother
- Grandma
- Granny (Grannie)
- Grammy (Grammie)
- Gammie
- Gran
- Gran-Gran
- Gan-Gan
- Grandmom
- Nana
- Nan
The American South has a slew of special traditions and customs, so if you grew up in the South, the vast array of southern grandmother names may not surprise you. Take a peek below at some of the most common options and their variations.
- Meemaw (Memaw)
- Maw-Maw
- Mamaw
- Big Mama (Big Momma)
- Grandmama
- Gramma
- Gramaw
- Gram
- Grams
- Mimi
- Nene
My husband called his mom 'moo' growing up because of a tongue tie. So now she's ‘grandmoo.’
If you’re looking for a cool grandmother name that’s rarely been done before, you’re not alone. Even some celebrities have taken to the trend of adopting unique grandmother names. Kris Jenner goes by “Lovey,” Sharon Osbourne goes by “Shazza,” Martha Stewart goes by “Martha,” Goldie Hawn goes by “Glam-ma” and Debbie Reynolds went by “Aba Daba.” Check out some more distinctive options below.
- Birdy (Birdie)
- Didi (Deedee)
- Fifi
- Bibi
- Baba
- Lovey (Lovie)
- Lola
- GoGo
- Granna
- Mumsie
Sassy grandma names aren’t really all that edgy—rather they’re monikers for young, fun and hip grandmothers-to-be. If you’re looking for a young grandma name that feels bold and trendy, check out the below “sassy” grandma names.
- Gigi
- Kiki
- Kitty
- Zsa Zsa
- Queenie
- Glam
- Hopie
- Meems
- Gam
- Poppy
- Moo Moo
My son calls my mom ‘Sea-ma’ because she lives by the water.
Grandmother names are inherently adorable, as they identify the sweet, strong women in their grandkids’ lives. But if you’re looking for a slew of extra-cute grandma names that haven’t been done before, check out the nicknames below. When thinking of these alternative names for Grandma, you may also want to consider how they’ll sound with Grandpa’s chosen name. (For example, if your partner plans to go by “Pop,” then “Lolly” might make for a very cute grandmother name.)
- Lolly
- Honey
- Bunny
- Cookie
- Granny Pie
- GaGa
- Gram Gram
- Coco
- Minnie
- Mimsy
Every language has its own special word or words, for grandmother. As in English, some languages boast several variations of the word, while in others the words are dependent on whether the grandmother is maternal or paternal. If you’re looking for cool grandmother name ideas in other languages, peruse the options below.
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Afrikaans: In Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s official languages, the word for grandmother is “Ouma.” In the Zulu dialect it’s “Ugogo” or “Gogo.”
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Arabic: There are many different dialects within Arabic, but a common Arabic name for grandmother is “Jadati.”
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Cantonese Chinese: In Cantonese, grandmother names are classified as paternal or maternal. The paternal grandmothers are called “Maa maa,” and maternal grandmothers are called “Po po.”
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Creole: The Haitian Creole name for grandmother used most commonly is “Grann.”
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Filipino: In Filipino, the name for grandmother is “Lola.”
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French: There are many French grandmother names, but the most common are “Grand-mère,” “Grand-maman” and “Mémé.”
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German: “Oma” is the German name for grandmother.
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Greek: The Greek name for a grandmother is “Yia-yia,” but this too has several variations, including “Yiayia,” “Yaya” and “Ya-ya.”
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Hawaiian: In Hawaii, the formal word for grandmother is “Kuku Wahine” or “Tutu Wahine,” but many shorten this to “Tutu.”
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Hebrew: The most common Jewish grandmother names in Hebrew are “Savta” and “Safta.”
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Indonesian: The Indonesian word for grandmother is “Nenek,” but another popular name is “Oma.”
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Irish: In Gaelic, grandmother translates to “Seanmháthair,” which means old mother. Some other popular Irish grandmother names are “Mhamó,” “Mamó,” “Maimeó” and “Móraí.”
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Italian: The word for grandmother is “Nonna,” but this is often turned into other Italian grandmother names, such as “Nonnina” and “Nonni” (which is also how to say grandparents in the plural).
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Japanese: In Japanese, grandmothers are called “Obaasan” or, more commonly, “Sobo.”
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Korean: The Korean word for grandmother is “Halmeoni,” but other variations include “Halmoni” and “Halmi.”
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Mandarin Chinese: In Mandarin, grandmother names are also classified as paternal or maternal. The formal name for paternal grandmothers is “Zumu,” while “Nai nai” is also commonly used. The formal name for maternal grandmother is “Wai zumu,” while “Lao lao” and “Wai po” are also commonly used.
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Polish: The Polish name for grandmother is most often “Babcia,” but can also be “Babunia.”
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Russian: The Russian word for grandmother is “Babushka.”
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Scottish: In Scottish Gaelic, the word for grandma is “Seanmhair,” which means good mother. But other commonly used Scottish grandmother names include “Nana,” “Nanna,” “Mhamó” and “Mamó.”
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Spanish: In Spanish, grandmothers are known as “Abuela” or “Abuelita.”
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Swahili: In Swahili, the word for grandmother is “Bibi.”
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Yiddish: In Yiddish, the word for grandmother is “Bubbeh,” but common spelling variations include “Bubbe” and “Bubbie.”
Choosing a grandmother name as you wait for baby’s arrival can be fun and fulfilling. Just remember, your grandchild may have their own special take on whatever label you end up selecting, further solidifying your sweet bond.
Plus, more from The Bump:
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