Coming up with the perfect name for grandma doesn't have to be difficult. Here's an inspiring list of names to keep the process fun and low-stress.
A new grandchild, whether it's the first or tenth, is such an exciting event in the life of a family, with so many ways to prepare and decisions to be made.
As the parent, so much of this preparation falls on you. But if your child is the first grandchild in your family, there's one task the whole family can get involved in: picking out grandma's name.
Lots of grandmas love the traditional name, but others may want to try on something more unique and fun. As the parent, you can choose the name yourself, let Grandma pick one for herself, or wait and see what your little one comes up with once they're talking.
There's enough to think about (and be overwhelmed by) as an expecting parent – we don't want this decision to be anything other than fun. Here's a roundup of grandma names, ranging from traditional and cultural to sweet and sassy.
The top 10 grandma names
- Grandma
- Gran
- Granny
- Gram
- Grammy
- Gigi
- Mamaw
- Mimi
- Nana
- Nanny
22 grandma names in other languages
You can honor your baby's heritage by borrowing a grandparent name from your ancestors' language. Many cultural names translate well into English, and some are easy enough to spell and pronounce.
Plus, choosing a grandma name inspired by your elder relatives' backgrounds is a great way to honor them with the newest generation and make them feel special.
- Abbi (Spanish, short for abuela)
- Abuela (Spanish)
- Amma (Icelandic)
- Avo (European Portuguese)
- Baba (Ukrainian)
- Babushka (Russian)
- Bibi (Swahili)
- Bomma (Flemish)
- Bubbe, Bubbie, or Bubby (Yiddish)
- Farmor (Swedish, paternal side)
- Grand-mere (French)
- Laolao (Mandarin, maternal side)
- Mamie (Canadian French)
- Mamo (Irish)
- Mormor (Swedish, maternal side)
- Nainai (Mandarin, paternal side)
- Nonna (Italian)
- Oma (German)
- Savta (Hebrew)
- Tita (Spanish)
- Vovo (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Yia-Yia or Ya-Ya (Greek)
18 sassy grandma names
- Abba
- Birdy
- Gabby
- G-ma
- G-mom
- Gram Cracker
- Grams
- Lola
- Madam
- Meems
- Mimzy
- Nan
- Nene
- Tootsie
- Queenie
- Sassy
- Sweetie
- Za-Za
21 cute grandma names
- Amma
- BeBe
- Bosh
- Bunny
- ChaCha
- Gimmy
- Gogo
- Golly
- Gramsie
- Grancie
- Gran-Gran
- Happy
- Kitty
- Lovie
- May-May
- Marmee
- Mom-Mom
- Moo-Maw
- Momsie
- Mumsy
- Pippa
21 other names for grandma
If the traditional grandma names aren't for you, here are some creative names we like to get your ideas flowing:
- Babs
- Bella
- Big Mama
- Coco
- Cookie
- Deedee or Didi
- Fifi
- Gaga
- Gamma
- Gangie
- Glamma
- Gramma-Bamma
- Lala
- Lulu
- Mammy
- Mia
- Momo
- Nanner
- Uma
- Vava
- Yumma
13 gender-neutral grandparent names
Consider these gender-neutral names for grandparents if you have a nonbinary grandparent or they're a member of the LGBTQ+ community – or if you're just looking to use more inclusive language in your family.
- Baba
- Bibi
- Heart
- Honey
- Hugs
- Gramby
- Grandcestor
- Grandy
- Grandwa
- Nini
- Panda
- Punky
- Zippy
How to choose a grandma name
When grandma chooses her own name
It's fairly common for parents to give grandma the responsibility of choosing her own nickname, and this is probably the most traditional way to pick a name. If the name "Grandma" makes your mom feel ancient, letting her pick her own hip nickname might help her adjust to the idea of her new role.
One caveat: There's always the possibility that you won't like what she comes up with.
"I asked my mother-in-law what she wanted to be called and she chose Mommy. That is not happening!" says one BabyCenter mom.
If you're concerned this might happen with your family, you can always communicate that you and your partner have the final say.
When you choose the grandma name
It's possible that your mom or mother-in-law won't be up for the task of choosing her nickname, or you might just prefer to name her yourself. No problem – take the reins!
"My mother-in-law didn't want to be called Grandma, so I made up the name LaLa for her," says one mom. "It's a combination of the last syllable of her name (Darla) and the last syllable of the Spanish word for Grandma (abuela). She loves it!"
Doing the naming yourself can be particularly helpful when you're dealing with difficult emotions or relationships. "I'd like my stepmother to be called Gigi (for Grandma Ginny) instead of Grandma," one mom explains. "I think it will hurt my mom less."
If your baby has multiple sets of grandparents and step-grandparents, you may want to use matching names for each couple, which have a certain ring to them and can certainly make things less confusing. Some examples: Gram and Gramps, Nanny and Pappy, Lolly and Pop.
When your child chooses the grandma name
Even if you or your child's grandma have chosen the perfect name, there's no guarantee it'll stick. In what will feel like the blink of an eye, your little one will start making attempts at speaking, and a nickname for grandma could be one of their earliest words.
But that's not a bad thing. Being bestowed with a special pet name can warm a grandma's heart. One BabyCenter parent's little one started calling her grandmother Grandi, a grandmotherly variation of her first name, Randi.
"We thought it was so cute and clever," says the BabyCenter mom.
Knowing months will pass before your baby is a talking toddler, you'll need something to call grandma in the meantime. We suggest picking a base name as a starting point, to see how it comes out of your little one's mouth. It's likely your baby's pronunciation will be different than yours, but that's just one more thing to look forward to during the naming process!
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