Grandmother names

[Gemini]

This isn't my news, but I wasn't sure where it went best!

An interesting article. We have two of these names here on the forum

Ethnic Names for Grandmothers

Modern grandmothers are expanding their roles and selecting varied names for themselves. There are lots of Omas who aren't German and many Lolas who aren't Filipino. If you like the sound of one of these ethnic names or a grandmother name from another country, you should feel free to select it, although it's a good idea to discuss whatever name you choose with the parents of your grandchild first.


Many of these names appear in several variations and spellings. Remember that languages use a variety of alphabets, which makes translating them into English tricky.

Popular Ethnic Names for Grandmothers


These names are among those most frequently chosen just because they sound good and are easy to say and spell.

• Filipino: Lola is the most popular grandmother name. Other names used by Filipinos include inang and its variations indang, nanang, ingkong and nanay.
• French: Popular choices are Grand-mère or Grandmere, but Grand-maman is also used occasionally, along with Gra-mere, Mémé, and Mamé.
• French Canadian: Mémé and Mamie are most often used by French Canadians.
• German: Oma is one of the most popular ethnic names for grandmother and is often used by grandmothers with no German heritage.
• Greek: Maybe because it just sounds joyful, the Greek YaYa is a popular grandmother nickname. It's sometimes hyphenated and sometimes rendered as YiaYia.
• Hawaiian: Tutu is often used for grandparents of both genders, although technically grandmothers are Tutu Wahine and grandfathers are Tutu Kane.
• Italian: Nonna is a popular grandmother's name, possibly because it is close to Nana and other familiar grandmother nicknames.

Less Popular Ethnic Names


The names that follow don't roll as trippingly off the tongue, and some of them can be real challenges to spell. For that reason, not too many grandmothers select them unless they do reflect at least a part of their heritage. Also note: In Europe, where there has been a lot of movement across borders, grandmother names used in one country are frequently heard in neighboring countries as well.

• Hebrew: Jewish grandmothers typically choose either the Hebrew Savta or the Yiddish Bubbe. Both have several variant spellings.
• Chinese: Popular Chinese names for grandmothers include NaiNai, Ma Ma, Po Po and Wai Po, but the exact name chosen depends upon the region, the language and whether a grandmother is on the maternal or paternal side.
• Flemish: Flemish is spoken in Flanders, which is the northern part of Belgium. Bomma and Bommi are common Flemish names for a grandmother, but the Flemish also use Oma or Omi.
• Irish: Seanmháthair is Irish for grandmother, but Irish children are much more likely to use Maimeó or Móraí.
• Japanese: Obaasan is the Japanese word for grandmother, but Japanese boys and girls are much more likely to call their grandmothers Sobo or Soba.
• Korean: Halmoni is commonly used, although it can be spelled as Halmeoni or shorted to Halmi.
• Polish: Babcia, Babciu, Babunia, Babula, and Babusia are all variations of Polish names for grandmother. Is it any wonder that Polish grandchildren often shorten these terms to Baba?

• Portuguese: Both the Portuguese term for grandmother and the one for grandfather are spelled Avo, but they have different diacritical markings and pronunciations.
• Russian: Babushka is the Russian name for grandmother, and, yes, the Russian nesting dolls are sometimes called babushka dolls.
• Spanish: Abuela and Abuelita are common terms, often shortened to Lita.

A Few More Choices


These grandmother names don't link to longer articles but do offer some interesting options.

• Armenia: The Armenian language is an ancient tongue that uses its own alphabet. The Armenian word for grandmother, transliterated, is Tatik.
• Cambodia: The official language is Khmer, and a grandmother is Yeay or Yiey.
• Croatia: The Croatian language is spoken in Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and neighboring areas. The Croatian word for grandmother is Baka.
• Iceland: Amma is the Icelandic word for grandmother. In several other languages, the word means "mother."
• Malay: People in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia may speak Malay. The Malay word for grandmother is Nenek.
• Romania: People in Romania and Moldova may speak Romanian and may call their grandmother Bunica.
• Swahili: Many Africans speak Swahili. It is the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Swahili word for grandmother is Bibi.

[Nanto2girls]

Interesting reading Gem.
Thank you.

[Oma]

I wonder what other nations think of our Grandparent names

[Gemini]

Thinking of names for a grandmother takes me back to something I remember and often smile about now

Many years ago, when our oldest children were tiny and I in my 20's, my friend just into her 30's we discussed this topic.
I remember saying I would prefer to be called by my first name by grandchildren once they arrived as all the grandmother names made me sound too old. We mulled it over a bit then we both agreed that by that time we would be so old we probably wouldn''t care at all what we were known as

I now find the So Old bit very amusing (I certainly didn't feel at all old when I became a Grandma at 55) But also that I was right in a way. Not that I was so old I didn't care but that I was mature enough to long to be called Grandma and be so proud of that title

I must ask my friend if she remembers that conversation

[Daisy]

Gem - that's very interesting, and so is your post above. I would never have chosen to be called grandma. If anything I would have preferred the Welsh, Nain (pronounced Nine) but somehow Taid (pronounced Tide) for OH seemed really old and his own grandfather had always been called Taid.


I think I like it best when the grandchildren come up with their own version - I know there's at least one member here whose nickname was a young grandchild's attempt at saying 'Grandma'. My GS1 labelled me Grandma DogDog when he was very young, and that's stuck!!

[Nana]

That would be me Daisy & I never tire of hearing it.❤

[Gemini]

My mum was Nanna to her grandchildren and my MIL was Nannie. I wasn't keen on either of those and never wished to be called them. Mums best friend (still alive and recently celebrated her 90th birthday) was Grandma to her GC. She is a lovely lady so maybe it was that, and how lovely and cosy a name it sounded that made me know that was the name I wanted when the time came.
I was lucky that GD was the first GC for both sides so no one had that name, and when GS1's came along his other grandmother, who already had 2 GC was a Granny.

I love been Grandma it is my favourite word to hear spoken
I love all the variations too, and hearing how they came to be chosen.

[Oma]

Very few up hear are called Grandma its always Nana no matter if your a Great grandmother or Grandmother they just stick a name on the end ,

B's Mam is Nana Ulla his Dad Was either Grandad Martin or Grandad Teeth
My Mam was Little Nana ( because of her height ) or Nana and surname

Men tend to be Granda rather than Grandad in some areas
I love being called Nana it just feels right and reminds me of my Mother
I often get called Nana Banna it was something the boys just picked up as tots and stuck

[Gemini]

Oma my mum could be Nanna to her GGC, as none of the grandmothers chose it. She was very happy to keep it

[Avo]

I’m Nanna because when our first grandson was born my Mum was alive and she was Nanny and my Husband’s Mum was already Grandma, I like being Nanna I think it suits me! My other half is Papa.

[Daisy]

Avo - perhaps we grow into our grandparent names. Papa is lovely, too.

[Gemini]

Yes Daisy, I think we all love whatever we are called because our grandchildren call us that

[Glammanana]

I've always been a Nanna as I felt far too young to be a Grandma when my first DGS was born
It has stayed the same with all my DGCs even my GGCs,with my eldest always shouting "nana I'm here" when she comes to visit words that I never tire of.
OH is called Grandpa or Grandy depending which DGS is talking to him my own dad was also known as Grandy and my OH took over the title when we lost my dad.

[Gemini]

It is interesting (to me!) to observe that my daughters' dad and I have both gone against the title our parents used.
I am Grandma, my mum is Nanna. He is Grandpa, his dad was Grandad A..... (my dad being simply Grandad)

[Plantaholic]

I am Grandma and my OH was Pa to all our GC, my DD is Ganma (he couldn't say Grandma) to her GS and SIL is Papa for the same reason. He calls me Gt.Granma. My mother was Nanny and my father was Grandad. My mother-in-law was Gran to my children. My friend (who died) was Granny which I think is nice.