The Ultimate Guide to Grandparent Names
We have every name you can possibly think of, and then some. Pick yours!
By The Editors
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Choosing your grandparent name — you know, the one you want your grandkids to call you — can be almost as challenging as it was to select your own kids' names. Coauthors Lin Wellford and Skye Pifer's book, The New Grandparents Name List, a Lighthearted Guide to Picking the Perfect Grandparent Name, could help ease the process. We organized the grandmother names and grandfather names into traditional categories, then into lists that cover trendy monikers, playful and personality-based designations, and international terms. So, start scanning and post a comment below to let us know if there's a different moniker you embrace.
Need some help? Read How to Choose Your Grandparent Name.
Or read how Grandparents.com columnist Sally Koslow recently chose her grandparent name in "Nana," "Grandma" or Just Plain "Gran?"
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traditional grandmother names
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Bamaw, Bammaw Big Mama Bubbie DaMa Dama , Dammaw Eema, Eemaw, Ema G Gada GadGee, Gadgi Gadgy GaMa, Gamma Gammi, Gammy, Gami Ganna Ganni, Ganny, Gani GanGan G-ma Gommie, Gommy Gram Gramma, Grama Grammie, Grammy Gramommie Grams Granana Grananny Grandama |
Grandgran Grandma Grandmom Grandmother Grandnan Granma Granmama Granmom Granna Granny Gumma Jamma Mamaw, Mamey Mammaw Mammy Mams Marmi, Marme MawMaw MayMay MayMay Maymee MeMa, Meema MeMaw, Mimaw MeMo, MeeMo Mimo |
MeeMee, MeMe MiMi Mima Mimma Mimmy Mimsy Minny MoMa, MoMaw MoMo MomMom Momsy Mum, Mums Mumsy, Mumsey Nama, Namma Nan Nana, Nanna Nanny Ne-ma NeNe, NiNi Ninna Ninny, Ninni Nona, Nonna Noni, NoNi, NoNee Nonni, Nonny Ona, Onna |
traditional grandfather names
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Banfy Banpa Banpy Bappa Bappy Beebaw BoBo BooBoo, Boo Boompa Boppa, Bop Da Da Pa DaPaw Drampa Drampaw G Gampa Gamps Gampy |
Ganpa G-pa Gram Grampa, Grampaw Gramps Grampy Gran Grand Granda Grandad Grandaddy Grandiddy Grandgramp Grandpappy Granpap Granpappy Granpop Granpoppa Gumpa |
Gumpy Gwampa Pa Pampa, PamPawPap PaPa PapPap Papps Pappy PawPaw PawPee PeePaw Pop Poppa PopPop Poppy, Popi Pops Popsi |
trendy grandmother names
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Ama A-May Ami, Aimee Ammy Babe Babo Bacca Bamba Bama, Bamma Bella Birdie BonBon CeCe, CiCi Coco Dally Dandy Fancy Fammy Fo-Ma, Faux Ma Foxy GaGa GandyMom Gangy, GanGee G-Dawg GG Gidget Ginja G-Mom Geeda, Geda GeezerGirl Gita GeeMa Glamama Glamma Glammy G.M. Gogi Go-Go Grammar |
Grandiose Grandy, Grandi, GranDee Granan Granette Granita Grani, Granni, Granee Granmanny Graylor Grea, Greah Gummy Hamma Kitty LaLa Lally Layla Leelo, Lilo Lela Lola Mami, Mammi MamaMia Manni Mayna MayMay Maysi M'dear Meemer MeMom Memot Mia Miami Minny, Mini Modie Momette MoMar Mombo MomMom Mommoo Mooma |
Momsy Mona Monee Mumica Mummers MuMu Muna Nano Nanima Naunee Necie Neema Nema Noma NotherMother Nimo OtherMother Onie Pama Pebbles Pippa Pippy Poma, Pomma Salsa Soosa Sugar Sugie, Shugie Tama, Tamma Tammy Tamsy TeeMa Uma, Umma Vanna Womba Wela YaYo Yama Yana |
trendy grandfather names
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Ace Adda Baba Babar Badda B.D., BeDe BeeMa, BeMa BigBop BiggieD Bobaloo Bop Bubba Buck Bud Buddy Buster Buzz, Buzzy Chief Coach Dabadoo Daddor Dadoo Dandy Dappy DeDad DeeDah Dexter Dodie Doody |
Doozy G-Daddy G-Dad, GeeDad G-Dawg G-Dog Geezer Guy, Geez G-Man G.P., GeePee Grand-D Grando Grad Gradaddy Graddy Grady Granda Grandy Granite Grandoody Grandude Grindy Grindiddy G.P. Mellowman MoreDaddy Odie Napa Nemo Panda Papi |
Papster Papadaddy Pawser, Pawsey PeePa, Peepaw Peepers Pepe Pogo Popeo Pepo Peppy Podge Pompa Poppers Popples Poppo PoPo Puggles P-Pop PopZ Puppa Puppaw Rocky Skipper Slick Umpa, Ump Ta-Pa Wampa Wompa, Wompaw |
playful grandmother names
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Abba Bambi Bamboo Banana Beemer Big Gram BiggieMa BiggieMama Booma Boomie Bubbles Bunny Cha-cha Chatty Ciaba (cha-bah) Cookie Dear, Dearie, DearMa Dizzy Dodie Doodie, Dooty Gabby, Gabbi Gadget Gitchey GoGo GoMa Grammug Grampoo Grancie, Grancy Grandmutter Granny Mame |
Grimmi Grinni, Grinny Happy Honey Huggy, Hugs, Hugme Jamagramma Jamma Khakie, Kakie Lolly, Lolli Lulu Lovey LoveyDovey Lula Mamabear Mamacita Mambo MaxiMa Mayzie Mermie Mini, MiniMa Mommo Momsy Moogie, Moogs Moo-Moo MoreMom, MoreMama Muddy Muffer, Muffy, Muff Mumpy, Mumps Nanamy Nanoo |
Nooni NuNu Peaches Pittypat PomPom Puddy Pumpkin Punky QueenB/Queen Bee Queenie Sew-Sew, SewMa SloMa Snuggy, Snugs, Snuggums Sunny Sweetie Sweetums TeaMa Tink, Tinky Tinkerbell Toots Tootsie Twinkie Twinkles Unni Upsy Uttermutter, Uddermudder Wicky |
playful grandfather names
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Babaloo Baboo Bebop Big Daddy, BiggieDad BigD, BiggieD Bo, Beau Bobber Bogie Champ Checkers Coach Dabba Dabbadoo Dadsy Derby |
DoDad, DooDad Dodie Domino Doody Doozy Dozer Faux Pa, Fo-Pa GoPa, Go-Pa Granpup Grantie Grinndy Grumpy, Grumpa Guapo Hee-Haw HoHo |
Huggy, HugMe Hummer Jeepers Paddles Peppers Podge Pogo Sarge Skipper SloPa Splash Tank TeePa Tug UmPaPa |
international grandmother names
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Aborigine Australian Formal - Garrimaay Australian Paternal - Mamaay Australian Maternal - Momu Polynesian Maori dialect - Tipuna Wahine African Berber dialect - Henna Botswanan - Nkuku Shona dialect - Ambuya Swahili - Bibi, Nyanya Venda dialect - Makhulu Xhosa dialect - Umakhulu Zulu dialect - Ugogo Afrikaans - Ouma Albanian - Gjyshe American Indian Cherokee - E-Ni-Si Cheyenne - Neske'e Eskimo, Inupiaq dialect - Aanaga Navajo (maternal) - Ma'saani Navajo (paternal) - Nali' Ojibway - Nookmis, Nookomis Arabic Formal - Jaddah, Jiddah Informal - Teta Armenian - Tatik Basque - Amona Belarusen - Babka Breton - Mamm-gozh Cajun - MawMaw Catalan - Àvia, Iaia Chinese Cantonese Paternal - Ngin Cantonese Maternal - PoPo Mandarin Paternal - Zumu Mandarin Maternal - Wài pó Croatian - Baka Danish Formal - Bedstemoder Paternal - Farmor Maternal - MorMor Dutch - Grootmoeder Esperanto - Avin Estonian - Va naema |
Farsi - Madar Bozorg Filipino Cebuano Formal - Apohang babae Informal - Lola Finnish - Isoaiti, Mummo Flemish - Bomma French Formal - Grand-mère Informal - Gra-mere, Mémé Semi-formal - Grandmaman Galician - Avoa Georgian - Bebia German Formal - Grossmutter Informal - Oma Greek - Yaya, Gigia Guarani (South America) - Jaryi Hawaiian Formal - Kapuna Wahine Informal - Puna, TuTu, Kuku Hebrew - Savta, Safta Hungarian Formal - Nagyanya Informal - Yanya, Anya Icelandic - Amma India Bengali Paternal - Thakur-ma Bengali Maternal - Dida, Didima Hindi - Daadima Southwestern - Ajji Urdu Paternal - Daadi Urdu Maternal - Nanni Indonesian - Nenek Irish/Gaelic Formal - Seanmhair Informal - Maimeo or Morai, Mavoureen Italian - Nonna Japanese Formal - Obaasan, Oba-Chan, Sobo (one's own grandmother) Informal - Obaba Korean - Halmoni Latvian - Vecmate Lebanese - Sitti |
Lithuanian - Senele, Mociute Malagasy - Nenibe Maltese - Nanna Norwegian - Bestemor, Godmor Paternal - Farmor Maternal - MorMor Polish Formal - Babka, Babcia, Informal - Jaja, Zsa-Zsa, Busha, Gigi Portuguese - Avo Romanian - Bunica Russian - Babushka Sanskrit Paternal - Pitaamahii Maternal - Maataamahii Serbian - Baba, Mica Slovakian - Babicka Slovenian - Stara Mama Spanish Formal - Abuela Informal Diminutive - Abuelita, Uelita, Tita, Abby, Abbi, Lita Swedish Paternal - FarMor Maternal - MorMor Swiss Formal - Grossmami Syrian - Teta, Jadda Tamil - Pathi Thai Maternal - Ya Paternal - Yai Turkish - Buyuk Anne, Anneanne, Babanne Turkmen - Ene Ukranian Formal - Babusia Informal - Baba Uzbek - Bibi Vietnamese Formal - Danh tá Informal - Ba, Bé già Welsh Southern - Mamgu Northern - Naini, Nain Yiddish - Bubby, Bubbe |
international grandfather names
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Aborigine Australian Formal - Maili Australian Paternal - Waayamaa Australian Maternal - Garrimaay Polynesian Maori dialect - Tipuna Tane African Berber dialect - Tamazight Botswanan - Ntatemogolo Shona dialect - Sekuru Swahili - Babu Venda dialect - Mmakhulu Xhosa dialect - Utat'omkhulu Zulu dialect - Ubabamkhulu Afrikaans - Oupa Albanian - Babagjysh American Indian Cherokee - Agiduda, E-du-di Cheyenne - Shi'choo Eskimo, Inupiaq dialect - Ataataga Navajo (maternal) - Chei Navajo (paternal) - Nali' Ojibway - Mishomis Arabic Formal - Jadd Informal - Seedo Armenian - Papik Basque - Aitona Belarusen - Dzied Breton - Tad-Kozh Cajun - PawPaw Catalan - Aviah Chinese Cantonese Paternal - Yeh Yeh Cantonese Maternal - Gong Gong Mandarin Paternal - YeYe Mandarin Maternal - Wai Gong Croatian - Djed Danish Formal - Bedstefader Paternal - Farfar Maternal - Morfar Dutch - Grootvader Esperanto - Avo |
Estonian - Vanaisahttp Farsi - Pedaer Bozorg Filipino, Cebuano Formal - Apohang lalaki Informal - Lolo Finnish - Isoisa, Ukki, Vaari Flemish - Bonpahttp French Formal - Grand-père Informal - Pépère SemiFormal - Grand-papa Galician - Avo Georgian - Babu German Formal - Grossvader Informal - Opa Greek - Pappous Guarani, South America - Aba Hawaiian Formal - Kupuna Kane Informal - Tutu Kane Hebrew - Saba Hungarian Formal - Nagyapa Informal - Tata Icelandic - Afi India Bengali Paternal - Dadu Bengali Maternal - Nanu Hindi - Daa-daa-jee Southwestern - Ajja Urdu Paternal - Daadaa Urdu Maternal - Daadi Indonesian - Petulu Irish/Gaelic Formal - Seanathair Informal - Daidoe, Daddo Italian - Nonno Japanese Formal - Ojiisan, Sofu (one's own grandfather) Informal - Sofu Korean - Halabeoji Latvian - Vectevas Lebanese - Jid |
Lithuanian - Senelis Malagasy - Babakoto Maltese - Nannu Norwegian - Bestefar Paternal - Farfar Maternal - Morfar Polish Formal - Dziadek Informal - Dziadzio Portuguese - Avo Romanian - Bunic, Bunicut Russian - Dedushka Sanskrit Paternal - Pitaamaha Maternal - Maataamaha Serbian - Deda Slovakian - Dedek, Dedi Slovenian - Ded Spanish Formal - Abuelo Informal Diminutive - Abuelito, Tito, Lito Swedish Paternal - Farfar Maternal - Morfar Swiss - Grosspapi Syrian - Jidu Tamil - Thatha Thai Paternal - Bpoo Maternal - Dtaa Turkish - Dede, Buyukbaba Turkmen - Baba Ukranian Formal - Dadju Informal - Gigi Uzbek - Bobo, Doda Vietnamese Formal - Ong Informal - Ong Noi Welsh Southern - Taidie Northern - Tad-cu, Taid Yiddish - Zaide, Zeydeh, Zeyde, Zeide, Zede |
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My grandblessings call me "Graggy"! <3
That's a lot of names but there is one missing...mine! Avia (Via for short) ... it's Latin for grandmother. No it didn't come from the sneaker :-)...lol... but it was fun to find a sneaker with my name on it !!
My three children all called my parents different names. The oldest calls my mom MayMay and my dad Grandpa. My middle them grandma and pawpaw. The youngest and most original of my kids calls my mom Deedaw (his spelling) and my dad Tawtaw (also his spelling). I don't know where he came up with them but my grandkids are now calling them that. They call us mawmaw and pawpaw.