The Ultimate List of Names for Grandparents

We talk a lot about becoming and being moms, but with that comes making our parents grandparents! And with that, comes figuring out names for grandparents. Some of our parents are cool with the traditional Grandma and Grandpa, while others opt for something more unique. Some kids have so many grandparents that they have to use first names with their “grandparent names”. For example, my kids have three grandfathers: Grandpa Bill, Grandpa Buddy, and Pop Pop. They also have one great grandfather, Grandaddy. They call him Grandaddy because that’s what we called him when I was growing up, so I don’t think they even know his real name at this point.

When it comes to names for grandparents for the females, we are all over the place in my family. My mom was Grandma. My mother-in-law is Omi. We call my grandmother Nanie, which is actually pronounced like her name, Janie. My husband’s grandmother is called Gigi by all the great-grandkids.

Then there’s the decision of who decides on the names for grandparents.

Deciding on names for grandparents is very personal. In our family, we let the new grandparents choose what they would like to be called. I have, however, heard of parents having a heavy say in what they want their children to call their parents. Hey, to each his/her own. However you decide on your names for the grandparents in your family, you’ll probably need ideas, so here you go!

The Ultimate List of Names for Grandparents

Names for Grandmothers:

• Grandma – (it’s the classic, had to include it)
• Granny
• Omi – (what we call my husband’s mother, our Omi)
• Oma – (German for grandma)
• Gigi – (Ukranian name for Grandma)
• Yaya – (Greek name for Grandma)
• Nana
• Nanie – (pronounced like Janie with an N. Yes, I give you permission to use my grandmother’s nickname, because it’s super cute and unique)
• Mawmaw
• Amma – (Sounds a bit like Mama, popular in Iceland)
• Lola – (I am not Filipino, but when I become a grandma one day, I sure as heck am using this name.)
• Mimi or Meme
• Ouma – (South African, and might I say, a really beautiful name for a grandmother)
• Gramms
• Nai Nai or Lao Ye – (Another set of names for grandparents that distinguishes between maternal and paternal grandparents, these cute names are from the Asian culture. Nai Nai and Ye Ye are for paternal grandparents, while Lao Ye and Lao Lao are for maternal grandparents.)
• Banma 
• Busia – (Polish, love it!)
• Mémé – (French. The formal name for grandma in French is actually grandmére, but Mémé is easier to pronounce and in my humble opinion, cuter.)
• Grammy
• Lolly – (Super cute name for grandma’s, especially paired with a grandpa called Pop.)

Names for Grandfathers:

• Grandpa – (it’s the classic, had to include it)
• Savta – (Hebrew for grandma)
• Geema
• Bomma – (Popular in Belgium, stemming from French and Dutch, meaning “good dad” and “good mom.”)
• Nonna – (Italian for grandma)
• Mormor or Farmor – (Swedish for grandma, with Mormor being the mother’s mother and Farmor being the father’s mother)
• Pop Pop – (I’m not positive about this, so don’t hold me to it, but in my limited knowledge of this name it seems a popular thing in Maryland. I only say this because my husband’s father is from Maryland and we call him this, and I know two other people who use the name “Pop” or “Pop Pop” from Maryland.)
• Grandaddy – (This is what I’ve always called my grandfather.)
• Baba – (Ukranian name for Grandpa)
• Pappoús – (Greek for Grandpa)
• Papa
• Pawpaw
• Saba – (Hebrew for Grandpa)
• Geepa – (Goes well with Geema for Grandma)
• Bonpa – (Flemish name used in Belgium)
• Nonno – (Italian name for Grandpa)
• Morfar or Farfar – (Swedish for grandpa, with Morfar being the mother’s father and Farfar being the father’s father)
• Opa – (Goes well with Oma, German)
• Afi – (Iceland)
• Lolo – (Goes with Lola, Filipino. I think Lola and Lolo are the cutest names for grandparents I’ve ever heard!)
• Pepaw
• Oupa
• Gramps – (Good ole gramps)
• Ye Ye or Lao Lao – (Another set of names for grandparents that distinguishes between maternal and paternal grandparents, these cute names are from the Asian culture. Nai Nai and Ye Ye are for paternal grandparents, while Lao Ye and Lao Lao are for maternal grandparents.)
• Banpa
• Dziadzia – (Polish, pronounced “jah jah”)
• Pépé – (French. The formal name for grandpa in French is actually grandmére, but Pépé is easier to pronounce and in my humble opinion, cuter.)
• Pop – (Pair this with the name Lolly for grandma, so cute)
• Pepere – (French cajun)
• Grampy

Now you have some ideas for names for grandparents, and you can have fun helping the new grandparents in your life choose their new names! It’s such a special time to become parents, and also to make your own parents grandparents for the first time! 

If you have names for the grandparents in your life that aren’t on this list, please leave them in the comments! I would love to hear them!

If you’re expecting, check out my pregnancy related posts!