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Nanny or Nannie

(123 Posts)
Rosie21 Wed 16-Nov-16 10:00:16

I always said I wouldn't be called Granny or Grandma but I wanted to be 'Nannie'. Now comes the English Teacher in me, spelling. I have chosen to be 'Nannie'. My thinking that it would differentiate me from a Nanny (paid). Any thoughts on being a 'y' or 'ie'?
What other term of endearment do your grandchildren use? brew

bmacca Thu 17-Nov-16 12:15:09

I've always been Granny so when my youngest grandchild came along she called her paternal grandmother Nanny. However, she now calls her Nanny Hooch (the dog's name!) to differentiate with great-grandmother on that side. When my mum was still with us, she chose for her grandchildren to call her Meme

SueDoku Thu 17-Nov-16 12:09:46

I'm Grandma. No ifs, no buts - and no idea why, as both sides of the family have always used Nanny - it just seemed 'right' and I love it smile My DGCs other grandmother is Nanna, so no confusion...
The only thing that I will say OP, is that if your family exchange cards, I don't think that I've ever seen one with 'Nannie' on - so they might struggle... hmm

maryrose54 Thu 17-Nov-16 12:07:45

I'm Granny but 2 year old GS calls me Grammy!Love it.

grannyscott Thu 17-Nov-16 12:04:35

In our family we use Nanan. Not sure where it comes from but I think it sounds more endearing than Nanny/Nanny which has an element of "being employed" to do the job about it.

Hattiehelga Thu 17-Nov-16 12:02:28

I am Nain, pronounced nine, to our four. My Welsh Mum was Nain to our two and they chose it for me in deference to her. I love it to be honest.

sillup Thu 17-Nov-16 11:49:42

My own grandparents were nannie and grandie but I waited a long time to be called Grandma. I think it's an individual thing.

Morgana Thu 17-Nov-16 11:42:20

My mother wanted to be nana but it was v hard to find cards with that on! I wanted to be granny but my g d says nanny.

Jan51 Thu 17-Nov-16 11:39:54

Nana and Grampa (pronounced gramper)

Bijou Thu 17-Nov-16 11:39:51

I am grandma and great grandma. According to the Oxford dictionary, nana can mean silly person and nanny, a goat.

Jan51 Thu 17-Nov-16 11:37:00

We are Nanny and Grandad. Elder grandson calls his other grandparents Nana and Grampian (they are welsh). My daughters called both sets of grandparents Nanny and Grandad followed by their first names. When I was young my grandparents were Nanny and Grandad followed by their surname. How times have changed.

Legs55 Thu 17-Nov-16 11:32:17

I never liked Nan or Nanny as a child, my GPs were Grandma & Granny.

However when 1st StepGC was born I felt choice of name was up to StepD & SiL - so I was Nanny L, StepD's DM was NannyA & SiL's DM was Granny. This has stuck so I am just Nanny to my DGS. smile

My DM is however Granny not Great Granny, think it suits her to be called this as it doesn't sound quite so "ancient" although she is 87, slightly less confusing for DGS as she is Granny to my DD.hmm

Buying cards is a nightmare as my DD often finds - try to find a Granny or even Grannie card, then suddenly it's all change as Nanny falls out of fashion confused

curly Thu 17-Nov-16 11:23:06

I'm Grandma to Emily age 22 and Gaga to her sister age 6 love them both!

Lewlew Thu 17-Nov-16 11:06:26

Pigglywiggly it's a good thing you are not from somewhere like
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch,
or would they just call you Grannie GoGo? grin

Tudorrose Thu 17-Nov-16 11:03:24

I am Nanna as that is what my children called my mother, also it is very easy to say so my GC could say lt easily before any other names!

Pigglywiggly Thu 17-Nov-16 10:54:52

I spell it Grannie as in Grannie Island and when they were small I was Grannie Placename and the other Grandma was Grandma Placename. All very Katie Morag!

michellehargreaves Thu 17-Nov-16 10:52:28

I wanted to be called Granny but my first grandchild called me Nana. Why fight it? DH was referred to as Grandpa by us, but same grandchild called him Barbar (like the elephant) for a time, then he started to call him Grandpa. He has never called me Granny though! ?

DotMH1901 Thu 17-Nov-16 10:50:46

My grandkiddies call me Nan, Nanna, Nanny and Nannie - don't really care which they use to be honest. I was in a cafe with my grandson when he was a toddler and he called me Nanny several times. A lady came over to us as we were leaving and asked if I was a paid Nanny as her daughter was looking for someone and she liked the way I interacted with my grandson. When I told her I was a grandparent she apologised profusely. My daughter is used to people assuming I am the parent or at least the Aunt of my grandchildren, my grandson patiently explains that no, that's my Nan smile

GrannyMosh Thu 17-Nov-16 10:48:56

My son decided I would be GrannyB, but my 14-month-old granddaughter calls me BeeBee! I don't mind what she calls me, as long as she says it with love in her eyes.

conners13 Thu 17-Nov-16 10:45:35

I am a Joma - suggested by my DD. But I expect DGS will call me what he wants when older, names evolve as the relationship grows I think.

Lewlew Thu 17-Nov-16 10:45:22

I don't know what I will end up with, probably Gramma and Grampa when she gets her words sorted, maybe Gram and Gramps when she's older. Her mum's mum is German, so she's Oma and dad is Opa... they pronounce the 'o' as 'aw'.

TillyWhiz Thu 17-Nov-16 10:41:38

I wanted to be called Granny as I was teased at school about having a Nanny (not the paid kind). I'm called Granny, Nanny, sometimes Mummy and even Daddy once! You know, it really doesn't matter!

Nelliemoser Thu 17-Nov-16 10:41:13

My mother refused to be called Grandma and settled for Nan, although her mum was my "Grandma".

My DDs MIL already had two GCs so I chose to be "Nannan" I understand it's a Sheffield/East midlands thing, fast dying out. The DGS's always understand completely who was who and don't get mixed up.

Lupatria Thu 17-Nov-16 10:40:40

i wanted to be granny pat but as my first grandaughter couldn't pronounce it when she was little i've become pannypat! and i'm now pannypat to four lovely girls.
i love my name as it's personal to our family and, even at almost 15, my first grandaughter still calls me that.
i feel truly special.

jogette Thu 17-Nov-16 10:38:12

I'm Grammie which is the best of both words

Grandmalove Thu 17-Nov-16 10:37:56

I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to be called. My daughter did not want two grandmas as that could be confusing so the other one is Grandma. I am Nannan which my son in law came up with as he was talking to the new baby in hospital. I love it as it is so different.