100+ Traditional, Cute and "Young" Grandma Names to Choose From

My daughter calls my mom “Grandma.”Just Grandma. Maybe it’s a bit basic, but as a mom, I stand by my choice. You see, my husband had some seriously silly names for his own grandparents—and my Southern mom’s friends all go by names that are equal parts charming and clawing (if you know what I mean). I just wasn’t gelling with any of the alternative grandma nicknames.

Because the truth is, it’s rarely just a nickname. Whether you’re a mom trying to steer your own mother away from a cliché, or a grandmother-to-be ready to claim your new alter ego, choosing a grandmother name is a major milestone. It’s about more than a label—it’s about defining a new identity. Are we going for cool and sassy, or timeless and classic? And perhaps the biggest question a family faces: Who actually gets the final say? Whether you’re leaning toward a traditional standby, a heritage-honoring title, or a hip, modern name à la Goldie Hawn’s ‘Glamma,’ we’ve got you covered. Here are the standout grandma names to help you find the perfect fit for your child’s favorite leading lady.

Key Takeaways

• Choosing a grandma name is an opportunity to reflect your unique identity. According to a recent The Bump social poll, traditional names (56 percent) still reign supreme, followed closely by heritage-based classics (26 percent).
• If you’re a soon-to-be grandma picking your own title, run it by the parents first. It’s an early gesture of respect that sets a positive tone for your evolving relationship.
• Coordinating titles with the other set of grandparents in the mix can be helpful to kids, but avoid forcing a match if it doesn’t feel authentic.
• Regardless of the chosen grandma name, young kids might put their own spin on it. Remaining open to this type of change is part of embracing this shifting dynamic.

Traditional Grandmother Names

Tradition is hard to beat. We recently polled our social-media community of real parents, and traditional options (like Grandma and Nana) took the top spot with 56 percent of total votes. There’s something to be said for sticking with tradition. Joe T., dad of two in Canton, Ohio, says, “My two kids call their grandma ‘Nana,’ which I think is a lovely traditional name. It was chosen by my wife, who has fond memories of her own Nana. We love how warm and inviting it sounds, and it feels like a name that brings everyone together.”

Even if you like the idea of classic names for grandma, there are plenty of small tweaks that can make it feel special for you and your family. Many of the options below can be spelled several different ways, and some of them are simple enough for toddlers to say.

• Grandmother
• Grandma
• Granny (Grannie)
• Gram
• Grammy (Grammie)
• Gammie
• Gran
• Gran-Gran
• Gan-Gan
• Grandmom
• Nana
• Nan

Unique Grandmother Names

Looking for a cool grandmother name that’s rarely been done before? Even some celebrities have taken to the trend of adopting unique grandmother names. Kris Jenner goes by “Lovey,” Sharon Osbourne goes by “Shazza,” Martha Stewart goes by “Martha” and Debbie Reynolds went by “Aba Daba.”

Some unique grandmother names come about by accident. For example, Deb Z., grandmother of two in Stratford, Connecticut, dressed as a pirate for her grandson’s birthday party, and the rest was history. “Though I always thought I’d be called ‘Nana’ or something like that, [my grandkids] named me ‘Pirate Grandma,’ and the name has stuck.” If you’d prefer to pick your own unique grandmother name, check out some more distinctive options below.

• Birdy (Birdie)
• Didi (Deedee)
• Fifi
• Bibi
• Baba
• Lovey (Lovie)
• Lola
• GoGo
• Granna
• Mumsie

Sassy Grandma Names

Sassy grandma names aren’t really all that edgy—rather, they’re monikers for fun and hip grandmothers-to-be. Pam B., grandma of one in Little Elm, Texas, says, “I knew I didn’t want to be called ‘Grandma,’ mainly because it made me feel old to think about it. I go by ‘G-Ma!’ It felt a little more like a hip name to me.” If you’re looking for a grandma name that feels bold and trendy, check out the below modern and cool grandma names.

• Kitty
• Zsa Zsa
• Queenie
• Hopie
• Meems
• Nini
• G-Ma
• Poppy
• Moo Moo

Cute Grandma Names

While they might not be the most common choice—earning 11 percent of our reader votes —cute grandma names are inherently adorableGrandma names are inherently adorable, as they identify the sweet, strong women in their grandkids’ lives. But if you’re looking for a slew of extra-cute names for Grandma that haven’t been done before, check out the grandma nicknames below. When thinking of these alternative names for grandma, you may also want to consider how they’ll sound with Grandpa’s chosen name. (For example, if he plans to go by “Pop,” then “Lolly” might make for a very cute grandmother name.)

• Lolly
• Honey
• Bunny
• Cookie
• Granny Pie
• G-ma
• GaGa
• Gram Gram
• Minnie
• Mimsy

Young Grandma Names

Sometimes, “grandma” doesn’t feel like the right fit because it doesn’t match your youthful vibe. While only 7 percent of surveyed followers opted for a young or modern moniker, giving the grandma name a glow-up work wonders. “I’m 65 years young, and my grandma name is ‘Glamma.’ says Julie W., grandmother of three in Cincinnati, Ohio, says. “I stole the name from Goldie Hawn since I thought it was so cute and clever and I don’t look like a ‘grandma!’”

Julie B., grandmother of three in Roanoke, Virginia, adds, “I picked out my grandma name, ‘Gigi,’ years before my daughter was even married. I wanted something that would be easy for little ones to say while still feeling modern, trendy and youthful.” See more young and fresh grandma names below.

• Gigi
• Glamma
• Glam
• Kiki
• Mimi
• Coco
• Gam
• Lulu

Southern Grandma Names

The American South has a bunch of special traditions and customs, so if you grew up there, the vast array of Southern grandma names may not surprise you. Being from the South myself, I knew many “Meemaws” and “Maw-Maws” growing up—all of whom were proficient in the art of buttermilk biscuit baking, of course. Take a peek below at some of the most common Southern grandma name options and their variations.

• Meemaw (Memaw)
• Maw-Maw
• Mamaw
• Big Mama (Big Momma)
• Grandmama
• Gramma
• Gramaw
• Gram
• Grams
• Nene

Spanish-Language and Heritage Grandma Names

Honoring family roots is a major priority for modern parents. In fact, Heritage-based classics (like Abuela and Nonna) were the second most popular category in our poll, bringing in 26 percent of the votes.While “abuela” is the classic, names for grandma differ across Spanish-speaking countries and even by region. And some variations of “abuela” may happen by complete accident. For example, Scott D., dad of two in Mexico City, says, “My youngest son attempted to say ‘Abuela,’ his grandma’s preferred Spanish language name, but mispronounced it as ‘Wella.’ It transformed quickly and stuck with everyone in the family; now, even adults use it with a smile.” Other Spanish-language grandma names include:

• Abuelita (diminutive of abuela)
• Nana (often used in the Caribbean)
• Tita (used in Mexico and Panama)
• Abue, Abu, Wela, Lita (all short for abuela)
• Nona (used in Argentina and Uruguay)
• Yaya (used in Spain)
• Maya (used in Spain, regional)

Akshay C., dad of one in Tampa, Florida, says that, in his Hindi-speaking family, having his daughter call her maternal grandmother ‘Nani’ was a no-brainer. “What I love is that it’s simple, warm, and instantly connects her to our family’s language and culture,” he says.

Grandmother Names in Other Languages

Every language has its own special name or names for grandmothers. Some languages boast several variations of the word. In other languages the words are dependent on whether the grandmother is maternal or paternal. If you’re looking for cool grandmother name ideas in other languages, peruse the options below.

• Grandma names in Afrikaans: In Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s official languages, the word for grandmother is “Ouma.” In the Zulu dialect it’s “Ugogo” or “Gogo.”

• Grandma names in Arabic: There are many different dialects within Arabic, but common Arabic names for grandmother are “Jadda” (“grandmother”), “Jaddati” (“my grandmother”) or “Teta” (a more colloquial term).

• Grandma names in Cantonese In Cantonese, grandmother names are classified as paternal or maternal. The paternal grandmothers are called Maa maa,” and maternal grandmothers are called Po po.

• Grandma names in Creole: The Haitian Creole name for grandmother used most commonly is “Grann.”

• Grandma names in Czech: Babička, often shortened to Babi.

• Grandma names in Dutch: Oma (casual) or Grootmoeder (formal).

• Grandma names in Danish: The general Danish word for grandmother is “Bedstemor.” More specific terms are “Mormor” for a maternal grandmother and “Farmor” for a paternal grandmother. Nicknames include “Bedste,” “Ma” and “Mor.”

• Grandma names in Filipino: In Filipino, the name for grandmother is “Lola.”

• Grandma names in Finnish: In Finnish, popular words for grandma are “Mummo,” “Mummu” or “Mummi.” The formal word for grandmother is “Isoäiti,” which literally translates to “big mother.”

• Grandma names in French: There are many French grandmother names, but the most common are Grand-mère, Grand-maman, Mémé or “Mémère.

• Grandma names in German: “Oma” is the German name for grandma.

• Grandma names in Greek: The Greek name for a grandmother is “Yia-yia,” but this too has several variations, including “Yiayia,” “Yaya” and “Ya-ya.”

• Grandma names in Hungarian: The Hungarian word for grandma used most commonly is “Nagymama,” which is often shortened to “Nagyi,” which is the equivalent of “Granny.”

• Grandma names in Hawaiian: In Hawaii, the formal word for grandmother is “Kuku Wahine” or “Tutu Wahine,” but many shorten this to “Tutu.”

• Grandma names in Hebrew The most common Jewish grandmother names in Hebrew are “Savta” and “Safta.”

• Grandma names in Hindi: The two main nicknames for grandma in Hindi are Dadi (for the paternal grandmother) and Nani (for the maternal grandmother).

• Grandma names in Indonesian: The Indonesian word for grandmother is “Nenek,” but another popular name is “Oma.”

• Grandma names in Irish: In Gaelic, grandmother translates to “Seanmháthair,” which means old mother. Some other popular Irish grandma names are “Mhamó,” “Mamó,” “Maimeó” and “Móraí.”

• Grandma names in Italian: The word for grandmother is “Nonna,” but this is often turned into other Italian grandmother nicknames, such as “Nonnina” and “Nonni” (which is also how to say grandparents in the plural).

• Grandma names in Japanese: In Japanese, grandmothers are called “Obaasan” or, more commonly, “Sobo.”

• Grandma names in Korean: The Korean word for grandmother is “Halmeoni,” but other variations include “Halmoni” and “Halmi.”

• Grandma names in Mandarin: In Mandarin, grandmother names are also classified as paternal or maternal. The formal name for paternal grandmother is “Zumu,” while “Nai nai” is also commonly used. The formal name for maternal grandmother is “Wai zumu,” while “Lao lao” and “Wai po” are also frequently used.

• Grandma names in Navajo: In the Navajo (Diné Bizaad) language, grandmother names differ based on the side of the family. Paternal grandmothers are called “Shinálí,” and maternal grandmothers are called, “Shimásání.”

• Grandma names in Polish: The Polish name for grandmother is most often “Babcia,” but can also be “Babunia.”

• Grandma names in Portuguese: The Portuguese word for grandmother is Avó (formal) or Vovó (informal).

• Grandma names in Russian: The Russian word for grandmother is Baba, but the diminutive Babushka is often used. However, as in any language, happy accidents may create even more variation. For example, Dmitrii M., dad of two in Newton, Massachusetts, says that despite his mother’s plans to go by “Babushka,” his toddler daughter pronounced it “Booshka,” and the rest is history.

• Grandma names in Scottish: In Scottish Gaelic, the word for grandma is “Seanmhair,” which means good mother. But other commonly used Scottish grandmother names include “Nana,” “Nanna,” “Mhamó” and “Mamó.”

• Grandma names in Swahili: In Swahili, the word for grandmother is “Bibi.”

• Grandma names in Swedish: The main names for a grandmother are “Mormor” for a maternal grandmother and “Farmor” for a paternal grandmother. “Mommo” and “Fammo” are used as nicknames.

-Grandma names in Thai: The maternal grandmother is called Khun Yai, while the paternal grandmother is called Khun Ya.

-Grandma names in Turkish: Anneanne is used for the maternal grandmother, while Babaanne is used for the paternal grandmother.

• Grandma names in Ukrainian: The word for grandmother is “Baba,” or “Babusia” as a diminutive.

• Grandma names in Vietnamese: In Vietnamese, a grandmother’s name depends on her side of the family. Paternal grandmothers are called “Bà nội,” and maternal grandmothers are called “Bà ngoại.”

• Grandma names in Yiddish: In Yiddish, the word for grandmother is “Bubbeh,” but common spelling variations include “Bubbe” and “Bubbie.”

So Why Are “Other Names” For Grandma on the Rise, Anyway?

Brianna H., a mom of two in California asks, “Okay but why are modern day grandparents rejecting just being ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa?’”

It’s a valid question. In recent years, more and more women have opted to go by something other than “Grandma” once their first grandchild comes along. A quick internet search will lead to scores of bloggers writing about how they chose their grandmother name—including some celebrities, such as Katie Couric, who opted for the grandma nickname “Gogo.”

So why have different names for grandmas been on the rise? Many modern-day grandmothers feel like the traditional term doesn’t align with how they feel physically and mentally. It’s true that in more recent years, the way society looks at aging has shifted. Plus, studies show that people above the age of 65 are more active now than they have been in decades past. It makes sense that today’s grandmas are coming up with their own nicknames for grandma that feel more authentic to their personalities.

Evon Inyang, LAMFT, a marriage and family therapist based in Minneapolis, adds that cultural pride has played a part too. She says “families are more multicultural and more intentional than in past generations. A name like ‘Lola’ or ‘Yia-yia’ hands a grandchild a piece of heritage every single time the child calls for her.”

What to Consider When Choosing a Grandmother Name

What best suits your personality? Is there a regional favorite you’d like to stick with? Will the parents like your chosen name? Perhaps you’d prefer a grandmother name from a different language that honors your family’s cultural heritage? Has your family been using the same traditional name passed down from generation to generation? You might decide to keep the name or use it as inspiration for a more unique grandma name.

There are plenty of names for grandma out there, but you’re going to want to take a few things into account when choosing the right one for you.

• Consider Grandpa’s name, too. You may need to factor in the names of the other grandparents in the picture, too. “Paired names like ‘Mimi’ and ‘Papi’ can do real work, because a matched set tells the grandchild these two people are a unit. Young children build their early map of the family structure through small cues like this,” says Inyang.
• Sync up with your co-grandma. To add even more complexity, there’s also consideration for the other grandma’s name. Do you need to coordinate or differentiate? Who gets dibs on “Grammy?” This negotiation can sometimes become a bit layered. “Sometimes the name conversation between the two grandmothers carries a second conversation underneath it, about who lives closer and who will see baby more,” says Inyang. She advises that new parents address this tension by setting the framework: “We’d love for each of you to have your own special name!”
• Don’t forget to factor in baby’s pronunciation. Odds are, whatever grandma name you pick, baby will have their own special way of pronouncing it—at least in those first few years. In other words, your grandmother name may transform into something different. So whether you choose to take on a traditional name or adopt a new one, don’t stress too much about your selection. Go with the one you’re most excited to hear your grandchild utter one day.

To Sum It Up

Choosing a grandma name as you wait for baby’s arrival can be fun and fulfilling. Just remember, baby may have their own take on whatever label you end up selecting, further solidifying a special bond.

How We Developed This Article

Choosing a special nickname can be exciting and overwhelming. And there are so many traditional and unconventional options to consider for grandma-name alternatives. To help uncover the popular and most unique options, we spoke with a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and lots of real parents and grandmothers. We even polled our social-media community for their opiniona. After editing, this article was fact-checked. Learn more about our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Kristen Bringe is a freelance writer and mom who put her own stamp on her family’s grandma-naming process. Through her writing, she seeks to help other moms feel seen and supported throughout their motherhood journeys.