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Grandparenting

Names for Grandma

(39 Posts)
Yorkshiregel Wed 05-Oct-16 15:47:17

I hated my children having to call their paternal Grandmother 'Nana'. It did not seem respectful to me but that is what she wanted so I let it ride. Now that my children have had their children I found myself in the position of being called 'Nanna' myself! As my oldest grandchild had always called me 'Grandma' before the others came along that is what I wanted to be called. I really had to put my foot down and now we have come to a compromise, my dil mother is called 'Grandma Janet' and I am 'Grandma Mary'. They wanted to call dil's mother 'Dotty' so I think she put her foot down too. Peace has been restored.

ginny Thu 06-Oct-16 10:06:42

I am Nana to my baby Grandson as I was to the older one. He now calls me Nan. Quite happy with that. I didn't want to be Grandma and I requested that I really didn't want to be Granny.

Bellanonna Thu 06-Oct-16 10:00:47

I really like it Annie

Anniebach Thu 06-Oct-16 09:52:36

Belladonna ,i was gaga for a few years

Bellanonna Thu 06-Oct-16 09:45:50

Happily Gaga, though I was meant to be Granny.

BBbevan Thu 06-Oct-16 09:45:37

I am Grandma and DH Grandpa. DiL asked us what we would like when DGD1 was born. We are all Grandmas in our family going quite far back. The other grandparents, being Asian , are Nanu and Nana which is quite nice also.

Anniebach Thu 06-Oct-16 09:01:33

Why is Grannie aging? I love being Grannie , chose to be called Grannie , i am grandmother not a nanny employed to look after children , feel rather miffed at the aged comments

LullyDully Thu 06-Oct-16 08:52:25

I am Grandmar ( Gd' s spelling needs help) and happy to be called what I called my dear old grandmas. I can't understand why Nana sounds younger than Grandma. Can anyone explain? To me they sound the same. My mil was called NanaEve which suited her.

Thebeeb Wed 05-Oct-16 23:16:36

I'm Nannie (Christian name) . Thinks that's sounds friendly not too formal and doesn't make me feel so old!!

hildajenniJ Wed 05-Oct-16 22:56:22

We are Granny and Grandpa which is quite appropriate as all our grandchildren live in Scotland. I wanted to be Granny as I didn't like Nana and Grandma sounds too formal.

annodomini Wed 05-Oct-16 22:22:41

My parents were granny and grandpa; my in-laws were grandma and grandad. My sisters and I are all grannies and very happy with the title. I believe the Queen is granny.

GrandmaKT Wed 05-Oct-16 22:15:31

I had a Mamar (not Ma-ma, but Mamar to rhyme with, er Jamjar (sort of). So that's what I decided I'd like to be called smile

Nanna58 Wed 05-Oct-16 22:07:16

Nanna fine by me (obvs !) what's good enough for dog in Peter Pan , good enough for me lol !

kittylester Wed 05-Oct-16 19:38:10

My grandfather was called poppa and my dad was called pop. They mean a lot to me!

mcem Wed 05-Oct-16 19:37:38

Oddly enough I've just had a call from L (6) to tell me that they had a chat today and have decided it's to be Granny X.
The only problem I've had over this was when ex husband was with a ghastly woman who insisted the big girls call her nanny m. I loathed her and the girls preferred to ignore her. Fortunately she didn't last long. Ex came to his senses and married a lovely woman whom I regard not only as family but also as a friend.

Wobblybits Wed 05-Oct-16 19:16:16

Likewise, I don't see that it matters what they call you. I am Pompa, that name has been used for grandfathers in our family for 3 generations. I am told it is a Northern name, which as I am from Yorkshire could be correct.

phoenix Wed 05-Oct-16 19:07:59

Does it matter? Can't really understand the OP's remark about "disrespectful"

Seems to hark back to another age!

merlotgran Wed 05-Oct-16 19:01:23

I'm Granny. Nothing shawl-like or grey bun about me. wink

Kittye Wed 05-Oct-16 18:50:41

jogginggirl you're right as long as we're loved it doesn't matter what we're called smile

jogginggirl Wed 05-Oct-16 18:43:40

To be honest, I don't mind what my grand-girlies call me ? But between me and the other grandparent we decided I would be Grandma and the other was happy to be Nana - I can't tell you how I feel when I hear "Grandma, I love you" - that'll do for me ?

kittylester Wed 05-Oct-16 18:40:19

Except, Ana, my mum was the middle child! Although I suppose she would have been the baby for 5 years until her younger brother was born.

Ana Wed 05-Oct-16 18:32:24

kittylester, I was always puzzled as to why her family often called my SIL Babs when her name was actually Patricia.

Apparently it was because she was the 'baby' of the family and is quite common in certain areas! confused

mcem Wed 05-Oct-16 18:24:41

My choice and fortunately theirs is Gran.
DD's ex's parents are Granny and Grampa. DD's father's 2nd wife is Grandma while he is Granddad. If anyone uses the wrong name my GCs immediately put them straight.

Dilemma! When mummy and her new fiancé get married they'll acquire a 4th grandmother and they haven't yet decide what she'll be called.
They realise that they're lucky to have more grandparents than most! (A situation we're all happy with.)

kittylester Wed 05-Oct-16 17:46:53

Isnt it funny the different perceptions we have of different names. To me, being called 'nan' would have me picturing a little old lady with a perm and a rocking chair, granny makes me think of my granny who was very glamorous with lots of jewellery, wearing tea dresses and furs, beautifully made up and driving a sports car. Grandma is homely and wise.

My mum was going to be Nana but DS1, who was her first grandchild, could only say 'Anna' which is what she is to all 6 of her grandchildren. People who don't know find it very confusing as her name is Alice and she was called Babs by her family. confused

aggie Wed 05-Oct-16 17:34:35

My mum was Grandma , I quite liked that but my lot said there was only one of her , so I ended up called Gran , this is ok as some of my kids are in Scotland and it is used a lot there and I loved my own Scottish Gran

ninathenana Wed 05-Oct-16 17:30:17

I asked to be nana as I didn't like grannie, nannie or grandma. Unfortunately the oldest GC when old enough decided for himself (3-4) started to call me nannie because that was what the other one was called so I must be a nannie too. I called both of mine nan but I hope I don't end up as that as they get older. They called my late mum grannie and their other great grandmother is nannie E***n