150 Grandma Names to Choose From

Becoming a mom is a huge milestone. Depending on your family structure, there are likely other milestones happening around you too—like your mom and mother-in-law becoming grandmas. So after you’ve named baby, it could be time to choose some names for grandma too.

There’s always the traditional choice of “Grandma,” but lots of matriarchs are choosing different names for grandma to go by instead—whether they’re honoring their cultural heritage or just want something special. Of course, some grandmother names spring up organically. “My son calls my mom ‘Sea-ma’ because she lives by the water,” says Stephanie K., a mom of two.

Need help brainstorming some options? Keep reading for standout ideas for grandma names, from classic to unique to grandma nicknames in various languages.

Why Other Names For Grandma Are on the Rise

In recent years, many 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.” On The Ethel: An AARP Community, journalist Ann Zimmerman writes that her two grandsons call her Gigi: “It never gets old. At the age of 68, I feel Gigi’s timeless and it suits me—aging on the outside, young at heart.”

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.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Grandmother 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. What best suits your personality? Is there a regional favorite you’d like to stick with? Perhaps you’d prefer a grandmother name from a different language that honors your family’s cultural heritage? Has your family has 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.

Another thing to consider: Baby’s pronunciation! Odds are, whatever name you pick, baby will have their own special way of pronouncing it—at least in those first few years—and 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.

Traditional Grandmother Names

There’s something to be said for sticking with tradition. But 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)
• Grammy (Grammie)
• Gammie
• Gran
• Gran-Gran
• Gan-Gan
• Grandmom
• Nana
• Nan

Unique Grandmother Names

If you’re looking for a cool grandmother name that’s rarely been done before, you’re not alone. 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,” Goldie Hawn goes by “Glam-ma” and Debbie Reynolds went by “Aba Daba.” 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 young, fun and hip grandmothers-to-be. If you’re looking for a young grandma name that feels bold and trendy, check out the below “sassy” grandma names.

• Gigi
• Kiki
• Kitty
• Zsa Zsa
• Queenie
• Glam
• Hopie
• Meems
• Gam
• Poppy
• Moo Moo

Cute Grandma Names

Grandma 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
• GaGa
• Gram Gram
• Coco
• Minnie
• Mimsy
• Mimi

Southern Grandma Names

The American South has a bunch of special traditions and customs, so if you grew up in the South, the vast array of Southern grandma names may not surprise you. Take a peek below at some of the most common options and their variations.

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

Spanish-Language Grandma Names

While “abuela” is the classic, names for grandma differ across Spanish-speaking countries and even by region. 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)

Grandmother Names in Other Languages

Every language has its own special name or names for grandmothers. As in English, some languages boast several variations of the word, while in others 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 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 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 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 grandmothers 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 commonly used.

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.

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 Swedish 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 Ukrainian

The Ukrainian word for grandmother is “Baba,” or “Babusia” as a diminutive.

Grandma names in Yiddish

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

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.