Grandparent names

[jdb in AZ]

Our young grandson started calling us Gummy and Guppy. The names have nothing to do with my teeth, or DH's size. The names stuck, and we actually like them better than grandma and grandpa.

 

[soccerdad72]

My wife’s side, they were Papa and Nana (FIL passed many years ago, however). My parents are Grandma and Grandpa.

Growing up, I recall calling my Dad’s stepmom (his father’s second wife - his mother died when he was a teenager) Grandma (last name) and my Mom’s mother was “Plain Grandma” (as in no need to use a last name, just plain Grandma)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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

Grandad
Grandpa
Grampa Jack

 

[Deb]

my mother had a Zayde. Her other grandfather passed before she was born. I don't know what my father might have called his one grandfather who passed when my father was 3, the other one had passed away well before he was born.
Both of my sets of grandparents were grandma and grandpa. Pronounced without the d by me. But since one set lived 5 blocks away and the other set many states away, in practice the out of state ones were often referred to as "grandma and grandpa in ..." name of state when we were talking about them

 

[fla4fun]

Ours were
Granddaddy and Grandmother
Grammie and PawPaw

 

[Dan Murphy]

Marie and I are Nana and Papa to all our grandkids, Natalie's and Vince's kids. The other sets of grandparents are/were Grandma and Grandpa. Easy to know which people are being referred to in conversations.

 

[AustinTink]

Congrats to your family, Sam. I’ve always been partial to “Gramps”. Goes well with your wife’s choice. Nana and Gramps.

We had a “Gramps” in our family and he was quite the character. We retired the name with him because no one could fill those shoes.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I had two Grandmas and two Grandpas. Was close to all of them into adulthood. If we needed to specify (among my sibllings and parents), we’d refer to them as Grandma or Grandpa Lastname. There were no issues. My parents followed suit and were also Grandma and Grandpa. DH’s mom is called Nana, following the tradition in his family. (No grandfathers on that side.)

No grandkids for us yet, but DH and I will likely be Grandma and Grandpa as well. I’m not inclined to choose anything else, but to each their own. Congratulations Sam and Mrs. Sam!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Congratulations Sam and to your wife. My own late beloved Grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa) meant everything to me. You and your wife will positively impact your future Grandkids lives too.

 

[leebee]

I have a friend who is called "Ganky" by his grandkids as that's what the oldest started calling him instead of Grampa.

Can someone enlighten me on the pronunciation of "Gigi?" Is it 'gee-gee' (like G-G) or giggy?

 

[sam_gordon]

I have a friend who is called "Ganky" by his grandkids as that's what the oldest started calling him instead of Grampa.

Can someone enlighten me on the pronunciation of "Gigi?" Is it 'gee-gee' (like G-G) or giggy?

I think "gee gee".

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug dear Lee. I think it is Gee Gee. I have known 5 Gigi's. Two late church friends who were Great-Great Grandmother's. Two of the others were a childhood friend and years later a teacher coworker. Lastly, Gigi #5, the first in my life was my Grandpa's black poodle who passed away I believe at 18 when I was 6. My beloved Grandpa's name was appropriately enough for this thread, Sam

 

[Southernmiss]

 

[kyton]

Growing up we had Nanas and Granddads. My kids had Nana & Poppy, Grandi & Granddad. My husband had a Nana & Poppy Tom, Darrie & Fairy.

My friends parents have run the gamut but the best one I’ve heard was Captain! The grandfather to be was told he could choose any name he would like - so he said yep I want to be called Captain.

My husband is called Timmy by our 3 kids as a nickname (nothing to do with his actual name at all) so I can imagine somewhere in the very distant future if we were to become grandparents his name would have Timmy somewhere as a giggle.

 

[kanne323]

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

We use Memere et Pepere*, as well. We also used Memere et Pepere* for my father's parents and Grandma and Grandpa for my mother's (not French) side. My cousins who had two sets of French grandparents used Memere Lastname and Pepere Lastname (and, because the family came from a pretty insular area where everyone knew everyone, we'd call each others grandparents by those terms, too (except for one set of cousins' other grandmother, she was always Madame Lastname, never Memere Lastname.)

My father's side spoke English as a second language, so French was prevalent, and we used mon oncle and tante (only ma tante if we were truly saying my aunt, but only tante with the first name... unlike mon oncle, which was always mon oncle, never just oncle.) We've carried it on to the next generation and I love being called Tante Firstname.

*This is so ingrained that I can't write or say Memere and Pepere. It was always Memere et Pepere for us.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I called both my grandmothers Grandma (and referred to them in conversation as "Grandma (Lastname"). My grandfathers had both already passed by the time I could talk, so my great-grandfather was called Grandpa.

DS grew up with Mema & Poppa on one side (set by his oldest cousin) and Grandpa & Nana on the other. (He originally couldn't say Grandpa, and it was "Bumpa" for a while, which the adults thought was cute and would have been fine with, but he ditched it on his own as he grew older and realized he had it "wrong".)

 

[georgina]

(Never knew my grandparents) For our kids, my parents were Nana and Granddad and DHs parents were Grandma & Grandpa. For our grandson we chose to be Nana and Granddad also, the other grandparents are Gigi and pop pop.

My nieces and nephews are much older than my kids, and they had longer relationships with my parents, so neither of my sisters who have kids chose to be Nana.

 

[marthachick]

We are Grammy and Poppy to 3.