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What do your grandchildren call you?

(197 Posts)
LadyHonoriaDedlock Sat 17-Oct-20 15:05:51

My grandmothers, in an industrial Lancashire town, were Nanna on my mother's side and Grandma on my father's.

I don't have grandchildren (does that make me a fraud here?) as my daughter, now 40, has shown no maternal tendencies. If I did I'm not sure what I'd want them to call me except that I really don't think I'd encourage 'Gran'. But that's just me.

4allweknow Sun 18-Oct-20 10:26:26

Grandma and Grandpa. Seem softer to say. Gran, Granny sound quite hard at least to me. Never been keen on Nanna or Nanny.

henetha Sun 18-Oct-20 10:30:57

I always wanted to be Nan, and I am, to all four of them, thankfully. But one of them, aged 28, still often calls me Nannykins.

Widnesbabcia Sun 18-Oct-20 10:31:08

Babcia and Grandad
My father was Polish so Babcia is a little bit of his heritage

Jo1960 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:32:38

I'm grandma to most of my GC, not my choice, I'd have preferred my first name tbh. My oldest GS called me Banmar when he was small, the next one down decided when he was 10 to call me GG, short for Greatest Grandma, which I love! I also have an "honorary" GS (no relation, DD2's friend's son) who has always called me Grandma JoJo.

When he was about 7, GS2 was asked if he knew what my actual name was. After several minutes of deep thought he announced proudly "crazy JoJo"! Very apt

Tempest Sun 18-Oct-20 10:34:23

We live in the UK. English grandfather is called Grandpa and I'm called Yia Yia which is the Greek traditional name for grandmother. My Greek mother, their great grandmother, is called Pro Yia Yia.
(Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks are Yia Yia and Pappou to their grandchildren.)

bigmama1960 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:38:06

I too come from the Potteries but called both sets of Grandparents Grandma and Grandad. To differentiate when talking about them we called them Grandma or Grandad whichever Surname. My own granddaughters call us Nanny and Grandad and Nana and Dandad. So sweet

busyb Sun 18-Oct-20 10:38:59

Each to their own, but I never wanted to be called Granny or Grandma it sounds cold to me, I chose Nanny, same as I called my Nans and my children called theirs. One DGD has shortened it to Nanna now she is a bit older and to me it still sounds sweet. Another DGD has grandparents living in Spain so it is Aubuella & Abuellito for them.

Neilspurgeon0 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:39:35

I always loved the Danish style: Mor-Far (mother’s father) Far-Mor (father’s mother) etc which shows up in The Big Bang Theory with Sheldon’s Mee Mor. It is very clear how everyone fits and is universal.

However my mother was Grandma and I am GranDad whilst my wife loves Nannie, shortened by the big ones to Nan. My youngest granddaughter has always called me Grumps.

Each to their own I guess

Paperbackwriter Sun 18-Oct-20 10:42:32

We're called by our first names. Works for us!

Awesomegranny Sun 18-Oct-20 10:42:50

Granny

lesleybs Sun 18-Oct-20 10:44:02

We are grandma & grandad. I had grandma & grandad followed by their surname, grandma & grandad topsy (their dogs name) & rocky grandma (my great grandma & her dogs name). My ds & dd call my mam grandma newhouse, i imagine you can guess why.

mumpy71 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:44:48

I'm mumpy, husband is grumpy, collectively known as 'the umpies'. It started as a joke but has stuck with 3 grandchildren. Sometimes we get funny looks but we don't mind.

Elainecoley1957 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:49:09

I’m Gigi to all of my grandchildren- we all love the name- it’s so easy to say❤️❤️

Gill33 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:53:29

I love being called Nanny as it’s what I called my grandparent. I am just filled with pride when my grandchildren come up to me and say Nanny.

jct1 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:53:56

We're Nanny and Pops. The maternal grandparents got in first with Nana and Grandpa. I think neither of us wanted to be called Grandma, far too ageing!

Cornflower Sun 18-Oct-20 10:54:20

My older two grandchildren call me Omi, the youngest one is still undecided between Omi and Momi which I think reminds her of her Mama. Omi is German for Grandma. We all live in the UK and are bilingual. They address their English grandmother as grandma.

Mancjules Sun 18-Oct-20 10:57:48

Carrying on a tradition. Mine was Granny Julia so I'm Granny Julie!

Gwenisgreat1 Sun 18-Oct-20 10:59:19

When Grandson was born and diagnosed to have Down Syndrome, I thought he should have the easiest name to call us, I suggested Nan and Pops, but DH didn't want that, so we became Nana and Grandpa, and that is also what out Granddaughter calls us - her paternal grandmother is not to happy in what granddaughter calls her - KnitKnit!! Guess what her hobby is?

Theoddbird Sun 18-Oct-20 11:00:24

When my eldest grandchild was born my mother was still alive. She was nanny. I was too young to be granny and I prefer the unusual anyway. I was a big fan of Mork and Mindy so I chose Nanoo...a solution on the planet Ork smile. All six of my grandchild call me this now smile

Tweedle24 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:08:43

My granddaughter, first grandchild, could not say Grandma so pronounced it Marmar. It has stuck, even with greatgcs who call me Marmar Marmar - bit of a mouthful but, their choice.

silvercollie Sun 18-Oct-20 11:10:16

I am Tipuna. It is Maori for ‘wise, female elder’. Must admit I thought it was ‘grandmother’ before I made the decision. Been embarrassed ever since. Too late to change.
I was ‘Poona’ for a few years though.

Bazza Sun 18-Oct-20 11:13:39

Grandmothers in the Philippines are called Lola, sounds so glamorous! Not so for all the girls called Lola everywhere else!

jangeo44 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:14:07

I am Nan to 4 of my grandchildren - all in their 20s, but my other granddaughter also 20 still calls me Nanny and I love it.

Aepgirl Sun 18-Oct-20 11:17:56

I’m Nannie.

Betty18 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:18:16

My ex mother in law who died three weeks after my grand daughter was born was Nonna as she was Italian . So I thought I’d be nana and started as that. But I now have morphed into Nonna and I love it as it keeps me feeling close to my lovely ex MIL and keeps a little Italian going through the family.