125+ Alternative Names for Grandma

Becoming a grandmother is a great honor, and it marks the beginning of a very exciting chapter in anyone’s life. But what if you’re a new grandma and you’re not sure what you want to be called? If traditional choices like “grandma” and “grandmother” don’t seem to fit, you can choose another grandmotherly nickname to be called by—after all, it’s your name! Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of alternative names and nicknames for grandmas, as well as tips for how to work together as a family to pick the perfect name.

The Best Creative Nicknames for Grandma

Mamaw
Nana
Tootsie
Birdy
Coco
Gaga
Granita

Section 1 of 12:

Traditional Names for Grandma

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Choose an alternative to “grandma” that’s still classic and recognizable. Some grandma nicknames are tried and true for a reason, and that’s definitely the case for traditional monikers that have been passed down through generations. If you’d like to stay away from “grandma” but still be known by a classic maternal name, try one of these traditional names:^{[1]
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- Grandmother
- Grannie (Grannie)
- Grammy (Grammie)
- Gammie
- Gigi
- Gran
- Gran-Gran
- Gan-Gan
- Grandmom
- Mamaw
- Mimi
- Nana
- Nan
- Nanny

Section 2 of 12:

Young Grandma Names

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Select a modern name for a grandma with a youthful spirit. Whether you’re below the average age for grandmothers or you just feel young at heart, it’s completely normal to not feel like traditional names like “grandma” resonate with you. So, go for something unique and different! While there are lots of different nickname options for young grandmothers, here are some of the most fun and vivacious:^{[2]
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- Ami
- Bunny
- Coco
- GG
- Glamama
- Grammar
- Granita
- Lolli
- Mia
- Momette
- Pippa
- Queenie
- Sugar

Section 3 of 12:

Spiritual Names for Grandma

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If you’re known for your spiritual side, choose a fittingly divine name. Grandmothers who are particularly religious or spiritual might opt for a nickname that has ties to sacred, holy, or mythological stories. If you frequently engage in meditative or Earth-honoring rituals, for instance, you might choose a name like Gaia or Luna. If you belong to a specific religion, you might choose a name like Savta (the Hebrew word for grandmother).^{[3]
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- Anya
- Blossom
- Ceres
- Gaia
- Granny Moon
- Luna
- Maeve
- Mystic
- Nona
- Sage
- Savta
- Star
- Wabi
- Willow

Section 4 of 12:

Sassy Grandma Names

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Show off some personality with a fun and cheeky grandma name. If your grandma personality is all about sugar, spice, and everything nice, then you might want a nickname that’s just as special and spunky as you! Check out these sassy grandma names to find one that best fits your vibe:^{[4]
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- Abba
- Birdy
- Gabby
- G-ma
- Gram Cracker
- Lola
- Madam
- Mimzy
- Tootsie
- Queenie
- Sassy
- Sweetie
- Za-Za

Section 5 of 12:

Unique Grandma Names

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Opt for a creative and unique grandma nickname to set you apart. If you’re searching for a different name besides “grandma” or “grandmother,” then you probably want something uncommon and unique. These names are appropriate for any grandma, but they’re fairly creative, interesting, and distinctive. Check out our list below:
- Bibi
- Big Mama
- Birdie
- Cookie
- Didi (Deedee)
- Fifi
- Gaga
- Gamma
- GoGo
- Gramma-Bamma
- Moo Moo
- Mumsie
- Nanner

Section 6 of 12:

Cool Grandma Names

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Choose a grandma nickname that’s as cool as the matriarch herself. It’s the 21st century, so it’s long past time that we recognize grandmothers as the cool, funky, sophisticated, and incredible women that they are! If you’re looking for a grandmother name that’s as cool as a cucumber and as warm as granny’s homemade apple pie, look no further than this list:
- Gigi
- Glamma
- Coco
- Queenie
- Bella
- Birdie
- Bunny
- Kitty
- Mimi
- Lala
- Honey
- Oma

Section 7 of 12:

Cute Grandma Nicknames

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Use a name that’ll make a grandchild’s first words even cuter. The most important part of choosing a grandma name is to choose something that you’ll be excited to hear your grandkid call you one day. So, why not pick a name as adorable as your grandbaby? These cutesy grandma names are sure to fit the bill:^{[5]
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- Amma
- BeBe
- Bosh
- Bunny
- ChaCha
- Coco
- Gogo
- Gramsie
- Gran-Gran
- Kitty
- Lovie
- May-May
- Marmee
- Pippa

Section 8 of 12:

Southern Grandma Nicknames

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Choose a Southern-inspired grandma name to pay homage to your region. The American South boasts certain grandmother nicknames that are especially popular and unique to the region. If you live in the South, you might like to choose a name that feels local to your area and is shared among your family members. If you don’t live in the South, you may still like one of these as a fresh and unique option in your area:^{[6]
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- Big Momma
- Grandmama
- Gramma
- Gramaw
- Gram
- Grams
- Mamaw
- Maw-Maw
- Meemaw (Memaw)
- Mimi
- Nene

Section 9 of 12:

Gender-Neutral Grandma Nicknames

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Find a gender-neutral name that works for any grandparent. Whether you don’t identify with one gender or you simply dislike the overtly feminine grandma names, there are plenty of gender-neutral names that make for great “grandma” alternatives. These androgynous names are just as fun, cute, and appropriate for any grandparent:^{[7]
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- Baba
- Bibi
- Heart
- Honey
- Gramby
- Grandcestor
- Grandy
- Grandwa
- Momo
- Nini
- Panda
- Poppy
- Punky
- Zippy

Section 10 of 12:

Grandma Names in Other Languages

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Look to other countries for unique and cultural grandma nicknames. If you have any sort of connection to another country, culture, or language, consider the names used for grandmothers among those groups and dialects. For example, if your family’s heritage is traced back to Germany, you might decide to go by “Oma” (the German word for “grandmother”).^{[8]
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- Abuela or Abbi (Spanish)
- Amma (Icelandic)
- Baba (Ukrainian)
- Babushka (Russian)
- Bibi (Swahili)
- Bubbe, Bubbie, or Bubby (Yiddish)
- Grann (Haitian Creole)
- Jadati (Arabic)
- Laolao (Mandarin)
- Mamie (Canadian French)
- Mamo (Irish)
- Nonna (Italian)
- Oma (German)
- Ouma (Afrikaans)
- Tutu (Hawaiian)
- Sobo (Japanese)
- Vovo (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Yia-Yia or Ya-Ya (Greek)

Section 11 of 12:

How to Choose a Different Name for Grandma

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1
Decide whether the parent or the grandma will choose the name. It’s most common for a new grandma to get to choose her nickname herself—she can come up with someone that feels authentic to her, then run it by the new parent or parents to make sure that it feels natural for them as well. If grandma doesn’t feel up for choosing her own name, then the parents might take over in choosing a name. This approach may be especially useful in blended families with multiple sets of grandparents, including step-grandparents.^{[9]
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- Emotions may be already heightened in these scenarios, and ensuring that a step-grandmother doesn’t reserve the title of “grandma” while the biological grandmother is deferred (unwillingly) to a less official name might be best for everyone in the long run.
- With multiple sets of grandparents, you might also consider using distinctive, matching names for each couple to make things less confusing for the baby. For instance, one set could be Gram and Gramps, while others could be Nanny and Pappy, Lolly and Pop, etc.
Do you have any traditional names in your family that have been used by multiple generations of grandmothers? Is there a common grandma name in your region that you’d like to use? Or how about a cultural name in a different language that honors your family’s heritage? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you might consider keeping that name (if you like it) or using it as inspiration before putting your own twist on it.^{[10]
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3
Make a list of possible names and narrow it down to your favorites. If you’ve opted against a family or cultural name and aren’t sure where to start, take a long list of common and unique grandma nicknames and go through the list one by one. Cross off any names that you definitely don’t want. Then, go through the list again and circle 5-7 names that you best like the sound of.
- Once you’ve identified your top names, consider if there’s a pattern among them—are they more unique or youthful, or are they traditional? Do they all start with the same letter?
- Even if you didn’t know it consciously, you might be gravitating toward a certain type of name. Keep this pattern in mind as you continue to narrow down your options.
4
Repeat the names and have others say them to see if they feel natural. Now that you’ve identified your top 5-7 names, repeat them a few times out loud. Pick one or two that feel the most natural to you. If you’re the grandma, ask a friend or your child to call you by that name a few times and consider how you feel when being called by that name.^{[11]
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- If you feel like you’ve landed on a name, run it by your grandchild’s parents and see if they have any input or suggestions—after all, they’ll also have to use this name to refer to you for the rest of their lives!
Keep in mind that, even if you land on the perfect name, children tend to change these names based on their pronunciation. Plus, they may just naturally choose a pet name for their grandmother that’s not at all like the name that was selected. However, it’s still good to choose a base name to be used while the baby is still learning to talk—just don’t get too attached to it.^{[12]
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Section 12 of 12:

Why do people want alternative names for grandma?

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Many women don’t feel aligned with the “aged” term of “grandma.” In recent years, it’s become increasingly common to choose a non-traditional name to be called by a grandchild. But why are so many women rejecting traditional terms like “grandma,” “granny,” and “grandmother”? According to some sources, the term “grandma” is heavily associated with old age, and many modern grandmothers don’t feel like the name matches where they are mentally and physically.^{[13]
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- This shift may be due with the change in societal views toward again. People above the age of 65 feel more active and youthful now than they have in previous decades, according to research studies, so it tracks that today’s grandmothers may want to choose a more youthful name that feels more authentic and natural.^{[14]
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