Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

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.

Humbertbear Sun 18-Oct-20 11:18:28

I am called Bubba which is the Yiddish name for grandma. It’s common in Jewish families to call both grandmas Bubba along with their first name.
My children spent a lot of time with my parents and always heard my father referred to by his first name by my mother so they followed suit. He loved it!

coast35 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:18:56

We are Granny and Papa. I just love it when my grandson calls me Granny. Like some others we thought we would never be grandparents won't is a complete joy to us.

Beanie654321 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:22:29

My husband and are are Tadcu and Mamgu, welsh. I'm immensely feeling honoured to be called it as I'm English, but hunky is Welsh. Children love it as for them its different.

spallam Sun 18-Oct-20 11:23:46

I'm called Gran . My husband is Grandpa to our eldest grandson, though our granddaughter and youngest grandson call him Gramps, because our granddaughter couldn't say grandpa! He's happy with either.

Grannybadger Sun 18-Oct-20 11:24:51

We are called Mam-mor and Bandan which is what our granddaughter called us when younger and she couldn’t say grandma & grandad.
We are childminders and the names have now stuck with us as we currently care for our grandson (her brother) and the other children have caught onto the names.

montymops Sun 18-Oct-20 11:26:17

I am called Aggie and my husband is called Gabba. These names were created by our eldest grandson - now a teenager- who when starting to form words got some letters the wrong way round. Hence instead of g r a n n y - the a came first Followed by the g g - these are now our names used by the rest of the grandchildren.

seadragon Sun 18-Oct-20 11:29:06

Aged 5-7 and living abroad, I used to write letters to my Grandma addressing her as: "Dear Grumphy". I honestly thought that was her correct title and no-one corrected me. It was only on my return that I realised that it was grandad's nickname for her - she was a formidable woman - and she was 'Grandma' from the on. I am 'Grandma' in her honour. Interestingly, Grandad was always 'Gaga' and my granddaughter spontaneously called DH 'Gaga' too....

chrissyh Sun 18-Oct-20 11:31:58

I am Nanny and my DH is Pa. Nanny becomes Nan as they get older. Nanny/nan was what I called my grandmothers and I loved them to bits so happy to take that name. I'm definitely not a Grandma.

Kim19 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:32:06

I don't think Grandma is remotely f/d. That's what my Mum chose and a less f/d person I cannot possibly imagine.

DotMH1901 Sun 18-Oct-20 11:33:38

When my DD announced she was pregnant her MIL said she wanted to be Grandma (FIL wanted to be Grandad). My DD asked if I minded and I told her the truth, I wasn't bothered at all. I preferred to be called Nanny - now usually shortened to Nan or Nanna. When I had my children my lovely MIL already had five grandchildren and they all called her Granma (no d) - my Mum said she wanted to be called Gran and we ended up Gran Mary (my Mum) and Gran Eileen (MIL). Sadly my DH died some years before our GC arrived but he had a preference for Pops, which his GF was called.

Goingtobeagranny Sun 18-Oct-20 11:34:35

To my Granddaughters I’m Granny, my Mum is Great Grandma, dil’s mum is Nanny and my ex husbands wife is Grandma, ex husband doesn’t get any kind of Granddad title tho as not really on the scene but his wife and kids are part of our family.

embracethegrey Sun 18-Oct-20 11:35:57

We’ve had Lally, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandad, Granny, GGs and Baba in our family. All deeply loved and the names seemed to fit the people concerned.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 18-Oct-20 11:36:05

I have one grandchild, and she calls me Nanna. OH is Granddad. Her other grandmother, who died last year, was Grandma. Her other grandfather died before she was born.

NanaPlenty Sun 18-Oct-20 11:39:11

Nanna or nanny and grandpa ?

dirgni Sun 18-Oct-20 11:47:34

Definitely Granny ( like the Queen)!

JanCl Sun 18-Oct-20 11:52:24

I hated the idea of being called Gran, Nan or any variants. Probably because I had no relationship at all with my Gran and a distant one with my Nanna. I felt a little self conscious but did some research into names for grandparents in other countries and chose Amma, which all my grandchildren call me. I'm glad I chose something I feel comfortable with rather than just conforming to tradition. Though there's nothing wrong with that if it works for you.

Janiepops Sun 18-Oct-20 11:59:42

I’m Nanma, the fist grandchilds attempt when he started speaking 11 years ago now,so as the next eight have arrived, Nanma it is! Husband is Grandad.

GrammaH Sun 18-Oct-20 12:00:06

Unsurprisingly I'm Gramma & DH is Graffa. I don't know where that came from, it was his idea but we like it & so do the grandsons, although with them it was " Waffa" when they were learning to talk!

kwest Sun 18-Oct-20 12:06:33

I have always wanted grandchildren and I am very proud to be called Granny. My husband chose to be called Grandfather and they all managed to get their tongues around it when small and it just is natural to them as they get older.
the grandfather for two of my grandchildren is known as Grandpa. The grandfather for the other two was known as Grampy and sometimes as Grumpy, but he was a lovely man.

MartineMagali Sun 18-Oct-20 12:11:01

Following on the steps of my mother, I chose a name with letters from my first name as identity for my two grandsons and young cousins. I am French though living in England for the last 45 years!). I also asked my husband to choose an equivalent. We are Nina and Teddy and it works splendidly. I am one of this person who tends to avoid the word 'old' as I prefer 'less young' and I truly believe that there is a lot of meaning in one's name for own self and the others. It fits.

Summerfly Sun 18-Oct-20 12:14:05

Some lovely posts.
I’m Oma and DH is Opa to our darling grandchildren who live in Germany. Their German GP’s are Omi and Opi.
My other lovely grandchildren call us Pops and Popsie. We love it ?

Chardy Sun 18-Oct-20 12:16:19

I'm Nana. My daughter chose it for me years ago when we first got dogs! (I hated it then, I love it now!) DGD's other gran is Grandma. My sister is Grannie to her beautiful brood.

schnackie Sun 18-Oct-20 12:20:00

My GN name, Schnackie, was bestowed upon me by a little Dutch boy who forgot my real (similar in translation), and my daughter really hoped that her children would call me that. However it proved to be too difficult for her little ones to say so I'm Granny and very happy with that. (I actually was hoping for Nana, but the MIL made it very clear that Nana was going to be her name!!)

schnackie Sun 18-Oct-20 12:24:00

Ha ha, re my earlier pedantic thread, I obviously didn't proof read my post well enough!! (..should be my real (similar in translation) NAME. Shut my mouth.)

Soozikinzi Sun 18-Oct-20 12:45:15

We’re Nana and Grandaddy one of the DGC just came out with grandaddy and it stuck ! It makes us easier to differentiate from The other grandads too !