When I found out I was pregnant with my son, I began to wonder, “What are my parents and in-laws going to go by as their grandparent names?” Grandparents are not just going with the classic Grandma and Grandpa names anymore. Some are now getting creative and are coming up with new ideas. If your mother or mother-in-law is unsure what they want their special Grandma names to be, here is our list of over 100 Grandma names to choose from!
International Grandma Names
Many grandmother names we hear are from different cultures used around the world and have been used for generations. These international Grandma names inspire many of the newer grandma names we’ve heard. Below this list, you can find the traditional and trendy Grandma names popular now in the United States!
Aborigine
- Australian Formal – Garrimaay
- Australian Paternal – Mamaay
- Australian Maternal – Momu
- Polynesian Maori dialect – Tipuna Wahine
African
- Berber dialect – Henna
- Botswanan – Nkuku
- Shona dialect – Ambuya
- Swahili – Bibi, Nayanya
- Venda dialect – Makhulu
- Xhosa dialect – Umakhulu
- Zulu dialect – Ugogo
Afrikaans
- Ouma
Albanian
- Gjyshe
American Indian
- Cherokee – E-Ni-Si
- Cheyenne – Neske’e
- Eskimo, Inupiaq dialect – Aanaga
- Navajo (maternal) – Ma’saani
- Navajo (paternal) – Nali’
- Ojibway – Nookmis, Nookomis
Arabic
- Formal – Jaddah, Jiddah
- Informal – Teta
Armenian
- Tatik
Basque
- Amona
Belarusian
- Babka
Breton
- Mamm-gozh
Cajun
- MawMaw
Catalan
- Àvia, Iaia
Chinese
- NaiNai
- Cantonese Paternal – Ngin
- Cantonese Maternal – PoPo
- Mandarin Paternal – Zumu
- Mandarin Maternal – Wài pó
Croatian
- Baka
Danish
- Formal – Bedstemoder
- Paternal – Farmor
- Maternal – MorMor
Dutch
- Grootmoeder
- Grootmama
Esperanto
- Avin
Estonian
- Va naema
Farsi
- Madar Bozorg
Filipino, Cebuano
- Formal – Apohang babae
- Informal – Lola
Finnish
- Isoaiti
- Mummo
Flemish
- Bomma
French
- Formal – Grand-mère
- Informal – Gra-mere, Mémé
- Semiformal – Grandmaman
- French Canadian – Mémé
Galician
- Avoa
Georgian
- Bebia
German
- Formal – Grossmutter
- Informal – Oma
Greek
- Yaya
- Giagiá
Guarani, South America
- Jaryi
Hawaiian
- Formal – Kapuna Wahine
- Informal – Puna, TuTu, KuKu
Hebrew
- Savta
- Safta
Hungarian
- Formal – Nagyanya
- Informal – Yanya, Anya
Icelandic
- Amma
- Yamma
Indian
- Bengali Paternal – Thakur-ma
- Bengali Maternal – Dida, Didima
- Hindi – Daadima
- Southwestern – Ajii
- Urdu Paternal – Daadi
- Urdu Maternal – Nanni
Indonesian
- Nenek
Irish/ Gaelic
- Formal – Seanmhair
- Informal – Maimeo or Morai, Mavoureen, Mhamó
Italian
- Nonna
Japanese
- Formal – Obaasan, Oba-Chan, Sobo (one’s own grandmother)
- Informal – Obaba
Korean
- Halmoni, Halmeoni
Latvian
- Vecmate
Lebanese
- Sitti
Lithuanian
- Senelė, Mociute
Malagasy
- Nenibe
Maltese
- Nanna
Maori
- Kuia
- Te Kuia
Norwegian
- Bestemor, Godmor
- Paternal – Farmor
- Maternal – MorMor
Polish
- Formal – Babka, Babcia
- Informal – Jaja, Zsa-Zsa, Bush, Busha, Busia or Gigi
Portuguese
- Avó
- VoVo
Romanian
- Bunica
Russian
- Babushka
Sanskrit
- Paternal – Pitaamahii
- Maternal – Maataamahii
Serbian
- Baba
- Mica
Slovakian
- Babicka
Slovenian
- Stara Mama
Somali
- Ayeeyo
Spanish
- Formal – Abuela
- Informal Diminutive – Abuelita, Uelita, Tita, Abby, Abbi, Lita
Swahili
- Bibi
Swedish
- Paternal – FarMor
- Maternal – MorMor
Swiss
- Grossmami
Syrian
- Teta, Jadda
Tamil
- Pathi
Thai
- Paternal – Ya
- Maternal – Yai
Turkish
- Buyuk Anne
- Anneanne
- Babanne
Turkmen
- Ene
Ukrainian
- Formal – Babusia
- Informal – Baba
Uzbek
- Bibi
Vietnamese
- Formal – Danh tá
- Informal – Ba, Bé già
Welsh
- Southern – Mamgu
- Northern – Naini, Nain
Yiddish
- Bubby
- Bubbe
Classic & Traditional Grandma Names
We’ve all heard these traditional Grandma names. These are the classic grandma names or grandma names that they have inspired. You probably have heard many of these names from your friends’ grandparents. Some new grandmothers are carrying on these names today.
Abba
Amma
GamGam
Gammy or Gammie
Gigi
Gram or Grams
Gramma
Grammy or Grammie
Gran or Gran-Gran
Grandma or Grandmaw
Grandmama
Grandmom or Grand mom
Grandmother
Grannie or Granny
Ma or Maw
Mammy (and can go with Pappy)
Marmee or Marmi or Marmie
MawMaw or Mawmaw – popular in south Louisiana and are Cajun in origin
Meemaw or Meema (usually goes with Peepaw or Papaw)
Mema, MeMa, or Mima
Memaw, MeeMaw or Mimaw
Meme
Memere
Mimi
Nana
Nanny (and can go with Poppy)
Nene (and can go with Papi)
Nonna
Yaya
Trendy & Cool Grandma Names
If the traditional names are not your type, that’s okay! We believe that grandparents deserve names as fun and unique as they are. So don’t be afraid to be creative and break tradition. Draw inspiration from international grandma names, traditional grandma names, or even these new trendy grandma names. It should be a name that feels like a match!
Babe
Bamba or Bama
BeBe
Bella or Belle
Big Grandma
Big Mom or Big Momma
Birdy or Birdie
Bomma – stems from French and Dutch, meaning “good mom.”
Bunny
CeeCee or Cici
Chacha
Coco
Cookie
Darling
Foxy
G
GG or GiGi
G-bomb
G-Ma or G-Mom (also spelled Gma, Geema or Geemom)
Gabby or Gabbi
Gadgy or Gadgi
Gaga
Gaggy
Gamma or Gams
Gammy
Gimmy (Like Kimmy, but with a G.)
Glamma or Glammy
GoGo or Gogi
Goma
Grammers (goes with Grampers)
Grancy or Grancie
Grand (and their name) – For example, Grand Martha and Grand Buddy
Grandma + First letter of the name
Honey (and can go with “Bear” for a grandpa name!)
Kitty
LaLa
Lollie or Lolly (and goes with Pop – so cute, right? Lolly Pop!)
Lovey
Madam
Mambo
Maw Maw
MayMay
Mémé (and can go with Pépé)
Mia
Mims or Mimsy
Minny or Minnie
Momo
Mom-Mom
Momoo
Mom mom
Momsie
Nonnie
Naunie
Nani (instead of Nanny)
Neena or Nina
Pippy
Pippa
Queenie
Sassy
Sugar or Suga’
Sweetie
Teenie or Teeny
Tootsie
Two-Mama (like a second mama)
Are there any Grandma names that we missed? Share with us what you call your Grandma or your kids call your parents. 🙂
