With all the baby excitement going on from the Virtual baby Shower for Katie from Sew Woodsey, I started thinking about when my daughter was pregnant and I was choosing my own grandparent name. I’d never thought about a grandparent name…at all, until then. I remember finding good lists of names but didn’t come across any advice or tips for choosing a grandparent name. Silly as it seems, choosing a grandparent name turns into a very big deal and it’s a lot of fun too!
When it was my turn to pick my grandparent name I was nearly 51. Once I reconciled within my own head and heart that a grandparent could still be “young, hip, wear jeans and be cool” I embraced the task of choosing my own grandmother name. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled I was going to be a grandparent…I just wasn’t ready to be called grandma.
I was lucky and wasn’t alone in this new stage of life. My good friend and neighbor’s daughter was pregnant too. We had many conversations over a glass of wine…or more 😉 while we were narrowing down our “new names”. She choose Mia. My sister had already become Gigi. Me? I was just plain stuck. Nothing fit and I did not want the family name of Nana.
Ya know what?
The more I read through lists of names, the more I realized that I had so many choices! Today the choices of grandparent names run the gamut from traditional, trendy, playful and even international. But where to start? Now that it’s common to pick your own name, the choices are overwhelming! There are traditional choices like Nana or Gamma. Fun names like Cookie, or trendy ones like Glammy. There are so many names to choose from! I’ve put together a few tips for choosing a grandparent name that I found helpful in my quest \for the perfect grandparent name for myself.
My tips for choosing a grandparent name:
- Keep a list of your favorite names as you find them.
- Do you have any nicknames?
- Are there any ties to sports or hobbies?
- Are there any family stories or special memories that come to mind?
- Are there any names that you just plain like because you just like them?
- Consider sharing your list with the new parents to be and make the choice a family process.
I also found these books helpful in choosing grandparent names.
The Big Book Of Grandparent Names
You Can Call Me Hoppa: The Grandparents Guide To Choosing A Name That Fits.
Ultimately, I shared my list of potential grandmother names with my daughters. We had a good time making the choice together.
What name did I finally choose?
Birdie.
My name, Wendi, came from the Peter Pan story. There was a scene when Wendy was flying and the lost boys called her Wendy Bird. My daughter used to call me Wendy Bird when she was little. To us, Birdie just kind of fit. I love the connection to my daughters childhood and this connection made my new grandparent name a perfect choice and the perfect fit for me.
Good luck to you and best wishes for new life as a grandparent. I hope my tips for choosing a grandparent name give you a few good ideas for choosing your own new name.
If your new grand baby is a boy, feel free to download my Baby Boy Subway Art HERE. It’s darling and looks great framed.
What’s YOUR favorite Grandmother name? Do share, we have a wonderful growing collection of reader stories below!
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Lori says
My daughter picked names for both my husband and I when we became grandparents. For some reason, she chose “Tink” for me, and “Biggie” for my husband. I was fine with that as long as I wasn’t Biggie 🙂 However, our sweet granddaughter embraced “Tink”, but never really caught on to Biggie. I realized how much kids emulate us when she (at about a year old) started yelling “Michaels!” at him. His name is Mike, but I call him Michael, and “Michaels” stuck. I think it’s precious. She can call me anything she wants, as long as she calls me!
Wendi says
Lori – That is hilarious! I love your names:) I think Tink & Biggie are darling and the rebranding your granddaughter did too You’re right..as a grandparent, you just want them to call! Tanks so much for sharing your story!
Candie says
Yes, my name is Candie. When my stepson and his wife had their first baby I didn’t feel I should be called “grandma” because our granddaughter would already be having 2 grandmothers, I didn’t want to take the “grandma” name from them. So I decided she could call me CandieGram. It has stuck, and now all of my grandchildren (even my biological ones) call be CandieGram. I generally refer to myself as “Grammy” to my biological grandsons, but they all call me CandieGram, anyway! I love it and so does everyone else!
Wendi says
Candie…How fun! Love your name! CandieGram is too cute and fun. How cool that you get a name so special that all the grandkids want to use it. Thanks so much for sharing your unique name and fun story!
Maureen Forsman says
I don’t have any grandchildren yet. I’m hopeful that someday I do. This name thing is a big deal to me and I don’t feel that a traditional name will suit me. When my kids asked about it I tell them ,”they will call my name, Mrs. Forsman”!
Wendi says
Maureen… That is so funny! It IS a big deal and such a fun rite of passage to choose a new “grand” name. I can see already that you will enjoy the process when your time comes:) Thans so much for your fun note & visit.
Nan McCauley says
Another cute story. My FIL was called Grandpa Mac by our first son. Along came our daughter who had trouble saying Grandpa. Her attempt was Crapper Mac so the name stuck. We had the name Crapper Mac put on a hat and he proudly wore it after that.
Wendi says
Nan! This is such a great story!! I’m sitting in an airport waiting area and cracked up laughing, to the point where other people were looking at me! Thanks for such a fun laugh!
Carol says
When my daughter was expecting my first granddaughter I started thinking about what I wanted to be called. I certainly didn’t want the “G” word either – my mother would be Mimi (that’s what the grand kids called her so the great grandkids would too). I had called my grandmothers “Nanny”, but that just seemed so old – so I decided on Nana – recognized my grandmothers but was more “me”. There is nothing in the world better than to hear “Hi Nana!” Be still my heart!
Wendi says
Carol…you are so right! There is nothing better in this world:) It sounds like you had a good time choosing your grandparent name too. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Sara says
We took my sister’s kids over to visit our grandmother last year, and my nephew got so turned around trying to figure out what to call her. We were all calling her “Grandma” but HIS grandma, our mom, was there and that’s what he was calling her. So he asked my grandmother (his great-grandmother) who she was, since HIS grandma was right there! And she, without missing a beat, said, “That’s your grandma, and I am Gramella.” It was so adorable. Now all of the great-grandkids (and she has quite a few!) call her Gramella, and so do some of us grandkids. Much less confusing and a lot more endearing.
Wendi says
Sara, What a beautiful story! I adore the name Gramella and am so impressed with her quick wit to come up with such a good name on the fly! Thanks so much for sharing your story:)
Melanie says
Wendi, I loved your story, and reading others stories too, so many beautiful, funny and touching. Don’t know if I’ll ever have grandbabies (although they are on my bucket list, like it’s up to me!), but I will be called Nonie, the name my now 30 year old niece gave me when she was a wee little thing. Aunt Melanie is a mouthful for a young child and Nonie was her version of that. Since then all of my nieces and nephews refer to me as Nonie, as well so my great niece and great nephew. We didn’t realize all those years ago that Nonie is similar to Nonna, Italian for Grandmother. Fingers crossed that some day one of my 3 daughters decides to gift me the blessings you all have!
Wendi says
Hi Melanie, Nonie is such a beautiful name, and how fun that you get to enjoy it now too! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that one of your daughters gifts you with a grandchild too! It’s much more fun than I expected 🙂 Thanks so much for your visit & adding your story and unique name.
Sonya says
My grandyounguns call me Pea-Pie..
Wendi says
Sonya..I love the name Pea-Pie and really love how you call them grandyounguns:) Thanks so much for sharing your unique name and your visit here:)
Sonya says
You are absolutely welcome..I am so blessed with three Grandsons..
18 months (Legend)
2 months (Eli)
1 month (Subject)
I have 3 step-granddaughter
1 year (Blake)
13 yrs. Tinsle
14 yrs. Shadow
1 step-granson
13 months Random
Susan says
i thought I had finally decided on Grammy, because I didn’t want to be Grandma. GR is a blend that small children can’t make so one day “Mimi” came out of my granddaughter’s mouth. I loved it. Her other Grandmother was to be called Grandma and it was much longer before she said her name.
Wendi says
Hi Susan, Mimi is a wonderful name:) Sometimes the best ones are the ones the little g’s choose for us! Thanks so much for sharing your story:)
Sue says
I tried to get named Grandma Sue since Mom-mom was taken by my granddaughter’s other grandmother. So my daughter-in-law would say, “Grandma Sue is coming over.” My granddaughter would argue with her and say, “Bubbles”. Back and forth they went until I was called Bubbles in the end. You see, I had an App on my phone called Bubble Blast. My granddaughter loved to watch the bubble faces spin around and around. So, she loved to see me and my phone when we went over. Thus, my granddaughter was the one who determined my name and I love it!
Wendi says
Sue…your story is fabulous! You are the first Bubbles I’ve heard of! Thanks so much for sharing your super creative name and your lovely story here:)
Kathy says
Your article made me chuckle. When we were pregnant, my mother-in-law could not decide what name she should pick. My husband’s sisters had already taken OMA and Nana. She said she wanted something different for ours. We gave her an Irish one after much thought. Nope. So my husband started using various villains from literature. Golum. Grendel. Baba Yaga. He continually called her those until our son was born.
We told her we would keep looking. She said no. She much preferred her name of Baba Yaga.
My children have checked every version of the story out of the library. When they were little and we went to a place with “Baba Yaga’s hut” , my daughter who was little at the time told a little boy her Grandma lived there. He said. Nuh uh. It is Baba Yaga. She said I know and smiled. He ran away!
I love your Wendy bird. We call my daughter Jaybird. Long story but I love your idea. Perhaps when she is old enough, she can be called this.
Wendi says
Oh…thank you, and thank you for sharing your story, and especially your daughters name, Jaybird! Can you write that idea down in a note for her and put it away until she becomes a grandmother? How beautiful. I love the villain names too, how fun and unique. Thanks so much for sharing your story! Have a wonderful weekend:)
Frances says
Just thought of this in re to great grandma name- I will go for Lambsie! Lamb is my maiden name-I am gma to my grandkids-we will have to see what comes out of Lambsie. One great grand is 2 and one is 4 mos….
Wendi says
Frances, what a fantatsic name you’ve picked! I love Lambsie and am sure your family will as well. Congrats on being not just a G-ma, but a great G-ma! Thanks you so much for sharing your story and your lovely new name choice.
Angee says
My Grandma name is Nona although, my 2 year old grandson calls me Nono more than not. That’s okay. The other grandma wanted to be called MeAnn and he calls her Mimi. My husband was Pawpaw, now he’s Pop. The best names are the ones we get from the little ones I guess.
Wendi says
Angee, Grandparent names are all special and when the little ones help pick the names it’s even more so! Thanks so much for sharing your special names & story!
Peggy says
Our first grand is 16 months old and I’m still waiting for confirmation of my/our G names. I have selected Gramsie, and by default the hubs is Pops. I didn’t want the G moniker so explored many names on the internet–didn’t like any of them. When our kids were little, they would frequently call me Momsie, so my daughter, mother of our granddaughter, suggested Gramsie–it stuck. I say that I’m waiting to learn what I’m really called because, as others have stated, the name isn’t set until the first grand says your name 🙂 I love being Gramsie, but will melt to whatever she calls me.
Wendi says
Peggy, Love it! Gramsie is a fabulous name, and whatever derivative of that you end up with will be extra special. I love the special name that your daughter had for you too, Momsie is great. Thanks so much for sharing your name and story!
Lynn says
My grandsons call me “Moogie” — it’s a Star Trek name (Ferengi) that means “mother”. I always joked that that’s what I’d be called but, when then time arrived, that was it. My husband could/would never come up with anything — he’s a physician — so I suggested “Doc” — so Doc he is!
Wendi says
Moogie! I Love it! How perfect to have names that clearly fit your personalities:) Thanks so much for sharing your story and your special grandparent names here, with me & my readers.
Mary Alice says
My daughter is the first grandchild and could not say grandpa. It became Pop and eventually Poppie. When she had the first grandchild, I too, did not want to be the “G” word. All the other grandparents were announcing what they were going to be called. Three sets of grands and four sets of greats. Gigi and Poppie, Mimi and Gumpy, Nonu and Nonnie, gramma Mary, gramma and grampa R, etc. my grandson was born and still no name for us. When he was about a year my daughter handed him something and told him to give it to gramma (me). I told her I was not gramma. He dumped in my lap and said, ” Here Oma,” I had never heard it before. So the hubs is Opa. And my daughter says we should be honored as we are the only ones named by the grands. It would not have been my choice, but when he (and now his sister) call me that I can’t help but melt.
Wendi says
Mary, Your names are lovely. It’s an extra special treat that the “little grands” choose them for you. Yes, I agree. It’s an honor…and you probably know this already, but Opa is also German for Grandfather. My dad is “Opa” to my kids and one little mini great-grand. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely story.
Linda says
My husband is David and called Dah by our two grandchildren. However, I’m Linda and am called Linda by both of them. I operate a family child care in my home and because the children call me Linda, Emily and Aaron have done the same – even with repeated reminders to call me Linna, or Gran Linna. It is endearing, but I do miss having my own using a name that’s mine alone. Sigh.
Wendi says
Linda… what a challenge! I love your choosen name though Linna and Gran Linna are both unique. Thank so much for your visit and sharing your story here:)
Gail says
i have a blended family, my new Granddaughter ( we don’t believe in the terms “step” or “in-law”!) calls me GG..short for Grandma Gail. My soon to be Great Grandson will do the same!
Wendi says
Hi Gail, What a beautiful way to embrace your new family:) Lucky you to have a new granddaughter and a great grandson on the way. I can tell they are all loved very much! …and I love the name GG! Thank you for sharing your story:)
Tarquin Roberts says
My daughter is the first grand daughter for my family so my mum was very excited and anxious to choose a name that suited her and her personality. Originally she had wanted Nanny but her mother is Nanna and my mother in law is Nanny Chelle or Nannies (her name is Michelle), so my mother decided on Grandmama. My father in law is Popsicle and grandfather in law is Pa. Grandmother in law is Nan (to any person younger than her, so I call her Nan also). My husband has decided to be called Father and I am Mother or Mama! For when we will eventually be grandparents, I’d like Nan for myself and my husband wants Pop Roberts!
Wendi says
Hooray for you having fun with your future grandparent names! I love the stories of how different name are inherited or assumed. Thank you so much for your visit and sharing your story:)
Loryl says
I don’t think grandparent “names” are anything new. Baby boomers just want to think so! Lol
My son called my inlaws Grammy and Bumpa and my folks Nana and Papa. My grandpa was Pappy. My nieces call me LaLa so if I’m ever fortunate to be a grandma I hope I’m called that.
Wendi says
Hi Loryl… I agree, they aren’t new. But I do believe there are some people who enjoy the freedom of choosing a new name for their new roles as grandparents. I know many others who love the family traditions and names that are handed down from generation to generation. I loved choosing my own name with my daughters and what we choose had a special meaning for all of us. It also helped me deal with the emotional step of becoming a grandparent and not wanting to be pigeon holed as “old”. I love your family names by the way! Thank you so much for sharing them here:)