Grandparent names

[Christine]

My maternal grandfather was "Doc" because he was a doctor, so my grandmother was, of course, "Nana Doc". My paternal grandmother was "Nana B" as her last name started with a B, although all my cousins called her "Grammie" or "Grammie B."

As a kid, I was always uncomfortable explaining the Doc was actually my grandfather. While now I like that this is what we called him, when I was a kid I wish he'd been Grandpa or a more common grandfather name. I also wished at the time (as well as now) that we'd called Nana B "Grammie" like the rest of the family. Just thinking about it from the kid's point of view when you are considering a unique or different name.

We have a similar issue (though not really the same). I have a stepfather, who is like my father, but I've always called him by his first name. When I had my kids, we decided that my mom would be Grandma and my stepfather would be Grampy. However, I guess my kids just always heard me calling him by his first name rather than "dad." He has about the easiest first name one could imagine (as easy as "Doc") and my daughter just started calling him by his first name, as babies/toddlers will do. So, both my kids call their grandfather by his first name.

 

[Kae]

A few years ago when a lot of my friends were becoming Grandmas there was this huge "fight Thing" about GiGi Everyone wanted to be Gigi and didn't want the other grandma to be Gigi. I told my friends the kids will name you, they said I was wrong/nuts. Well lets see We have a Gaga, Grandma and moomoo. and there all names the grandkids just started calling them.

 

[sam_gordon]

A few years ago when a lot of my friends were becoming Grandmas there was this huge "fight Thing" about GiGi Everyone wanted to be Gigi and didn't want the other grandma to be Gigi. I told my friends the kids will name you, they said I was wrong/nuts. Well lets see We have a Gaga, Grandma and moomoo. and there all names the grandkids just started calling them.

I thought about that too. But kids need to hear their parents calling the grandparents something, and then nicknames change based on how the kids pronounce them. I think.

 

[Boopuff]

My kids used to call my MIL "gram-cracker" and of course all the kids chimed in on that one. She was a good sport about the whole thing. When I became a grandparent, I assumed (wrongly) that I would be grandma and my hubby, grandpa. Nope. My first grandson had a speech problem. So I became "Gigi" since that's the best he could do, and it stuck. He called my hubby "Papa" now all the kids call us Gigi and Papa. And I'm ok with that... as my dear dad would've said "call me anything, but not late for supper"

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I told my friends the kids will name you,

My first grandson had a speech problem. So I became "Gigi" since that's the best he could do,

That's why I think focusing on a specific name is too forward thinking. And sometimes a specific name picked isn't one that child can pronounce even years later. It works both on being initially referred to as grandma/grandpa and the opposite of being referred to as a different than that. And leebee has a good point about considering how a child may see it (once they become aware enough). I had a good chat with my husband's step-sister's 17yr old at Christmas (whom I've been around since before he was born) and in the conversation he said he really doesn't like to call his grandfather (my husband's dad even though that marriage is no longer) paw-paw. It was a nickname fine enough when he was 6 he said, but as a teen it made him feel weird.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

My grandparents were named because of their nationality. My maternal grandparents were Memere and Pepere (French) and my paternal grandmother was Vovo (Portuguese)
I guess this makes choosing a name easier. My DH also grew up with a Memere and Pepere so if we are ever lucky enough to become grandparents ( not looking very promising right now ), we will be the same.
My sons called my parents Memere and Vavo bc my mom is French and my dad Portuguese. Haha

 

[mjkacmom]

It’s been my experience that the oldest grandchild does the naming. My dad started out as grandad, because that’s what he called his grandfather, ended up Da.

 

[13littledogs]

Congratulations on the grand !

 

[mjkacmom]

Neither my husband nor I grew up calling our grandparents anything other than "grandma" and "grandpa"

Do you feel like you have to have some name? You may be overthinking this.

Sometimes people have different names to distinguish which side of the family they are coming from, that I feel is a personal choice. It never confused my husband nor I growing up in which side we were talking about. My husband also calls his step-dad "dad" and if there needs to be a clarification between our conversations I'll just ask "____" or "____" (their respective names).

Both of my grandma’s were grandma, so we called them grandma pop pop and grandma fa.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Both of my grandma’s were grandma, so we called them grandma pop pop and grandma fa.

That's sweet. Like I said though both my husband and I called our grandparents grandma and grandpa both sides (both sides of mine have since passed away). There was not a separate name for one set. My husband still calls his grandmother on his mom's side grandma even though she has passed, he calls his grandmother on his dad's side grandma (who is still alive). No special add on nor unique name. He called his grandfather on his mom's side grandpa and his grandfather on his dad's side grandpa both have since passed. No special add on nor unique name. I'm not saying people don't or shouldn't have nicknames or add ons but that there isn't a necessity to do so either. Do it because you want to not because you feel compelled to.

 

[clh2]

My DD named my dad Papa Ron. She is now 31, and he is still Papa Ron.

My DH and I are grandma and grandpa. If we are taking to our grandsons, and talk about their other main grandma, we reference Grandma Colleen. We rarely reference the 3rd set of grandparents.

 

[amcnj]

Both of my grandfathers passed away when my parents were young children. One grandmother died when I was very young, and we called my other grandmother “Grandma”.

Similarly, my children called their grandmother “Grandma” (the other grandmother died when my first child was 6 weeks old). The grandfathers were both called “Pop-pop”, and in speaking about them they were distinguished by attaching their last name after Pop-Pop. I can’t recall who decided Pop-pop was the way to go.

My children also had a great grandmother for a
number of years. From the start she had decided she wanted to be called GiGi (to her the two “G” letters stood for Great and Grandmother) and that was what they used.

 

[CarolynFH]

I never knew my paternal grandmother so didn’t have a name for her. My maternal grandmother was Grandmomma, and that was the name my mother chose for her grandkids to call her, so I’m continuing that tradition. My grandfathers were Granddaddy and Grandpa.

My husband chose Grandad for his grandfather name.

 

[disneyseniors]

No, I'm not talking about their "proper" names. I'm talking nick names.

As I've said previously, I'm going to become a first time grandfather later this year. DD & DSiL told us at Christmas. They immediately asked DW & I what we want to be called. DW said she wants to be called "Nana". I didn't have an answer, and said I have to think about it. Six weeks later and I still don't have an answer. My grandfathers were called Zayde (paternal) and Pop-pop (maternal). Our kids called my dad Zayde also and DW's dad Papaw.

I've considered all three (my Dad passed away almost nine years ago), but nothing jumps at me. Maybe for one, I still don't feel old enough to be a grandparent (definitely am).

What and how did your grandfathers (whether you or your kids) get called?

I think there are some interesting old names that grandparents have too.
Mine were Lovey Mae for one gm and Pearl for another. The men's names were "normal". lol

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I was lucky in that all 4 of my grandparents lived in our city when I was young. They all were called Grandma/pa followed by their name.

When I became a grandma, my parents were both living and I came up with GrandmaGrandma and GrandpaGrandpa for them. My husband and I are simply Grandma and Grandpa

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I knew my grandfather as "Grandpa" - my other grandfather had sadly passed by the time I was born. This left my two grandmothers - "Grandma" on my mothers side and "Nonna" on my fathers side (Nonna being Italian).

 

[fly girl]

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS!

I used Grandpa.

My daughter uses Grandpa for hers too.

I have zero originality but there is one idea, but not sure if it sounds too feminine. Since your wife will be Nana, you could use BGE (pronounced bee gee) for Best Grandpa Ever. (My sister became a grandmother a week ago and she is BGE. We found it a nice chance outside of GiGi which we hear a lot.)

 

[Kitty 34]

As my grandkids get older (7,8, and 9) they just call us Grandma and Grandpa.

I grew up having a Granny and a (great) Grandmother and Grandfather

 

[tvguy]

3 of my Grandparents had passed before I was born, and the lone surviving Grandparent passed a month before I was going to meet him. He lived 1,500 miles away in Canada. So no experience with that for me. I did have close friends of my parents who lived locally that I called Grandma and Grandpa.

My kids called their Grandparents Grandma and Grandpa. They had a Nana as well, but she is a close family friend, no relation.

My wife had an odd mix of names. Her maternal Grandfather was called PawPaw. Her Grandmother passed before she was born, and her Grandfather's second wife was just called by her first name. On her paternal side, her Grandmother was known as Suzy....long story, but it was a nickname she was given by my wife's Uncle long before she was born.

As for our Grandkids, my wife wanted to be called Grandmum, I didn't care. But it has evolved to being "Grandma and Grandpa Our Last Name"..........which is the same last name was our Grandkids. They call their maternal Grandparents Grandma and Grandpa (first letter of their last name) because the name is a mouthful.

 

[slo]

When/If the time comes for us, I’d be happy with the classic grandma and grandpa. If the children decide to call us something else, then we’ll cherish whatever that is