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Consider alternative names for grandmother from all over the world
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Becoming a grandmother is a great honor, and it marks the beginning of a very exciting chapter in anyone’s life. But what if you’re a new grandma and you’re not sure what you want to be called? If traditional choices like “grandma” and “grandmother” don’t seem to fit, you can choose another grandmotherly nickname to be called by—after all, it’s your name! Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of alternative names and nicknames for grandmas, as well as tips for how to work together as a family to pick the perfect name.
The Best Names & Nicknames for Grandma
- Traditional: Grannie, Mamaw, or Nana.
- Sassy: Tootsie, Birdy, or Queenie.
- Cute: BeBe, Coco, or Kitty.
- Creative: Nanner, Cookie, or Gaga.
- Cultural: Oma (German), Bibi (Swahili), or Mamo (Irish).
- Young: Lolli, Glamama, or Granita.
- Spiritual: Gaia, Sage, or Luna.
Steps
Section 10 of 11:
How to Choose a Different Name for Grandma
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Decide whether the parent or the grandma will choose the name. It’s most common for a new grandma to get to choose her nickname herself—she can come up with someone that feels authentic to her, then run it by the new parent or parents to make sure that it feels natural for them as well. If grandma doesn’t feel up for choosing her own name, then the parents might take over in choosing a name. This approach may be especially useful in blended families with multiple sets of grandparents, including step-grandparents. [10] X Research source
- Emotions may be already heightened in these scenarios, and ensuring that a step-grandmother doesn’t reserve the title of “grandma” while the biological grandmother is deferred (unwillingly) to a less official name might be best for everyone in the long run.
- With multiple sets of grandparents, you might also consider using distinctive, matching names for each couple to make things less confusing for the baby. For instance, one set could be Gram and Gramps, while others could be Nanny and Pappy, Lolly and Pop, etc.
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Consider any familial or cultural names that you’d like to honor. Do you have any traditional names in your family that have been used by multiple generations of grandmothers? Is there a common grandma name in your region that you’d like to use? Or how about a cultural name in a different language that honors your family’s heritage? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you might consider keeping that name (if you like it) or using it as inspiration before putting your own twist on it. [11] X Research source
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Make a list of possible names and narrow it down to your favorites. If you’ve opted against a family or cultural name and aren’t sure where to start, take a long list of common and unique grandma nicknames and go through the list one by one. Cross off any names that you definitely don’t want. Then, go through the list again and circle 5-7 names that you best like the sound of.
- Once you’ve identified your top names, consider if there’s a pattern among them—are they more unique or youthful, or are they traditional? Do they all start with the same letter?
- Even if you didn’t know it consciously, you might be gravitating toward a certain type of name. Keep this pattern in mind as you continue to narrow down your options.
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Repeat the names and have others say them to see if they feel natural. Now that you’ve identified your top 5-7 names, repeat them a few times out loud. Pick one or two that feel the most natural to you. If you’re the grandma, ask a friend or your child to call you by that name a few times and consider how you feel when being called by that name. [12] X Research source
- If you feel like you’ve landed on a name, run it by your grandchild’s parents and see if they have any input or suggestions—after all, they’ll also have to use this name to refer to you for the rest of their lives!
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Remember that the chosen name still might not stick. Keep in mind that, even if you land on the perfect name, children tend to change these names based on their pronunciation. Plus, they may just naturally choose a pet name for their grandmother that’s not at all like the name that was selected. However, it’s still good to choose a base name to be used while the baby is still learning to talk—just don’t get too attached to it. [13] X Research source
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References
- ↑ http://roadscholar.org/blog/how-to-pick-your-grandparent-name/
- ↑ http://roadscholar.org/blog/how-to-pick-your-grandparent-name/
- ↑ https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/a43963702/grandma-names/
- ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/grandma-names-for-every-personality
- ↑ https://genderrights.org.au/faq/language/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/culture/grandma-names
- ↑ https://stuff.mit.edu/~jik/jewish-glossary.html
- ↑ https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/a43963702/grandma-names/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a35924744/unique-grandma-names/
- ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/relationships/28-names-step-grandmas-capture-special-bond
- ↑ http://roadscholar.org/blog/how-to-pick-your-grandparent-name/
- ↑ https://www.thegirlfriend.com/relationships/beyond-grandma-choosing-a-grandmother-name-that-suits-you
- ↑ http://roadscholar.org/blog/how-to-pick-your-grandparent-name/
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2007/05/13/10161665/whos-your-grandma-these-days-nobody-is
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4969157/
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