Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

What are you called?

(78 Posts)
squaredog Fri 04-Oct-13 16:52:25

No doubt this has been discussed before, so please forgive me. I'm new here.

My first GC is due next May (sadly in Oz), and I've been given free reign as to what I can be called.

I'm single, so there's not male equivalent to consider, and my first name's Susan.

I'd really love something original, as I'm definately not 'normal'.

But then, are any of us? Ha.....

Oooh, ideas please, ladies!

Anniebach Sat 05-Oct-13 09:43:17

I am Grannie, no discussion held, I wanted to be Grannie. I am also called McGonagall !

Sook Sat 05-Oct-13 10:21:11

I can understand maybe Nanny Flickety but not Nanna. At the end of the day it is personal choice and Nanna was mine. grin

dorsetpennt Sat 05-Oct-13 10:24:18

When my first GD was on her way both expectant grannies discussed what we wanted to be called. Neither of us wanted Nan, Nanny etc hated that term. So we decided we'd both be Granny. My GD at about 16th months old then decided to call me Gagi and the other granny as Granny. Now both children call me Gagi and the other Granny . I have no idea why I was the one with the Gagi sobriquet. My ex is Granddad America as that is where he lives and the other one is Granddad.
BTW the Duchess of Cornwall is called Gaga by her grandchildren so I'm up there with the royals.

Gagagran Sat 05-Oct-13 11:00:18

I didn't know that about Camilla dorset. I'm in good company with my GN name then! grin

annodomini Sat 05-Oct-13 11:02:48

I believe that the Queen is known as Granny as was her mother. Where's that crown emoticon when you need it? Grannyanno!

Maggiemaybe Sat 05-Oct-13 13:55:53

Nothing wrong with Nana, Sook - that's what I chose too. Full name Nana Maggie. I like the Italian Nonna but I suppose it'd be a bit pretentious of me to insist on that without a drop of Italian blood! My grandsons can't speak yet though, so I don't know what I'll end up with.

goldengirl Sat 05-Oct-13 14:26:45

The other grandmothers were insistant they were to be called Nanny as Grandma sounded 'old'. As I AM the older one I'm quite happy to be Grandma and even the DGC's friend call me Grandma rather than Mrs..... which I'm pleased about. I'm just proud and lucky to be a Grandma, so, so be it.

Galen Sat 05-Oct-13 14:37:15

I'm supposed to be Granny, but it's got altered to Graggy?hmm

janerowena Sat 05-Oct-13 14:49:11

Grandma and granpa. My own parents chose to be called Nanna and Poppa. I really wouldn't mind being called by my name, as my nieces and nephews have always done, but my daughter feels we need the extra gravitas that our titles bestow upon us. hmm

TwiceAsNice Sat 05-Oct-13 15:56:14

I am Granny to my 2 GD. When they were very little they called me Raggy as that seemed to be what they could manage. This changed to Granny when their language improved,they are now 4 and a half. I always wanted to be Granny, hated both Grandma ( as this was what my mother-in-law chose, enough said!) and Nanny as it reminded me of a paid Nanny looking after someone else's children. Obviously others are really happy with these names and we must all choose what we like to be called. Names apart being with my grandchildren is absolutely wonderful and as far as I am concerned they can call me anything they like as long as I see them often.

Hebs Sat 05-Oct-13 16:34:03

I used to be called "fish pond nana", because I had a fish pond

Agus Sat 05-Oct-13 16:58:44

My first GD managed to make her name for me sound like Brian! This eventually changed to Guy until she finally reached what I wanted to be called, Granny. Always Granny in our family. Depending how I am behaving, I can be called lovely Granny or naughty Granny. When I have had to reprimand them they say, oh, oh, here comes Angry Grannygrin.

I don't care what they call me, I adore them.

FlicketyB Sat 05-Oct-13 17:39:27

Sook, I quite agree, but this came from my grandmother and once that gets said in a family from childhood, the connection is made and you stick to Grandma!

NfkDumpling Sat 05-Oct-13 17:55:24

I really like Fish Pond Nana.smile

kittylester Sat 05-Oct-13 19:25:54

We opted to be Grandma and Grandpa because DD1 (who had the first DGC, so got to choose!) wanted Dh to be Grandpa as she really loved hers. DGS1 had other ideas and we are Ma and Pa, which I love. I don't like Nana or Nanny but wouldn't have minded Granny. Each to their own though. smile

I've said before - my Mum is called Anna because she wanted to be Nana and DS1 couldn't manage that. All her DGC and DGGC call her that now although her name is Alice and she is known as Babs - it's no wonder she is confused grin

Eleanorre Sat 05-Oct-13 19:57:19

My DIL's mother was in conversation with DIL's cleaner who told her that her children were with their ''nanny'' . I loved the look on the other's face as she is not from the UK and could not understand why you would be a cleaner if you could afford a nanny .
My husband is Opa to the children which is the German version for no good reason apart from it being easy to say and also our car registration so he has personalised numberplates .

Jendurham Sun 06-Oct-13 00:17:06

We used to be called Grannygrandadgreencarpastthewindmillsbullettrain by our grandson. Then we changed the green car to blue, so he then called us Grannygrandadyork.

henetha Sun 06-Oct-13 10:43:54

My name is Janet, so I've always been Nan-Jan to my grandchildren.
I love it!
Hope you find something you like, Susan.....

squaredog Sun 06-Oct-13 15:12:58

Thank you all for your considerations (and aren't there some!)

I think just using my first name, a tad impersonal, but how about Sooz?

Any opinions?

berdie Mon 07-Oct-13 08:40:46

Eldest GD when she first learnt to talk, was told " tell Bernie his tea is ready" but it came out "berdie tea ready", and its been like that ever since. Dw has always been nana Val.smile

kittylester Mon 07-Oct-13 13:51:44

I think, if anything, this thread proves that we have no say in the matter. grin

GrandmaH Mon 07-Oct-13 14:04:28

Obviously I am Grandma. My husband is their step Grandad & is Andy so they call him Grandy. Their real Grandad is Grandad Golf as he is always on a green somewhere. As their maternal granny also wanted to be grandma we had to try to find a way to tell us apart but the children worked out that there was a Grandma & Grandy & a Grandma & Grandad.
DDIL did suggest I became Grandma 'dog' at first but I squashed that idea!

My own GPs were nanny Puff-Puff as there were trains across the field opposite her house & Nanny K.- for her surname.

I don't care what they call me really but I love hearing 'GRANDMA!' yelled out ( but not before 7am please!)

gracesmum Mon 07-Oct-13 14:56:57

We are Granny and Granpa (DH never could spell) and the other GPs are Granny and Grandad . Elder DGS had absolutely no trouble telling which was which. He can't have been much more than 18 months when he dragged me into DD and SIL's sitting room where there is a group wedding photo of the 6 of us and he pointed out "That's you gwanny and gwanpa and that's gwanny and gwandad " I thought that was good especially as we were standing beside each other's DH's as you do in wedding pics. Littlest DGS just bellows "Hangy!!!" usually follewed by "Knee! Boo!! Wead it!!" smile - a little man of few words but crystal clear meaning although he can actually say Gwampa really clearly.

Judthepud2 Tue 08-Oct-13 00:30:46

We have 3 daughters all with small children. There are also 3 paternal grandmothers and 2 paternal grandfathers. BUT as we were first to be grandparents ( of DGS 1 who has no other grandparents involved - another story, don't ask!) we got first choice. I chose Gran like my mum was called and DH chose Grandad. Early versions were Gan and Daddad! we are also Gran and Grandad Ireland to our English DGCs

The others are Granma, Granda, Granny and then Granny Bel and Granpa Gareth.

DS and MIL haven't started yet so there is still the potential for more variation!

I personally like the use of variations of grandparent words as it helps children to fit us into the family relationship picture. But as several people have said, children will usually develop their own versions in spite of our preferences. smile

We love all 5 of ours so much and are very lucky to have them.

thatbags Tue 08-Oct-13 06:28:26

My kids called their grandmothers using their surnames: Grandma B and Granny E. Then their was Grandad (my dad) and Papa (the Scottish grandpa).

My grandchildren call their grans by their first names: Granny A and Granny H and, since my dad is dead, there is just Grandad R.

Their three remaining great-grandparents keep the names my kids used.

Looks like a formality shift to me. I like it smile