Family Ties: What to Call the Grandparents

March 23, 2008

My kids were lucky enough to have six grandparents on my side of the family alone. And, each one ended up with their own special name. To see what they call them, read more.

While my parents are Grandma and Grandpa, my kids call their great grandparents Cookie (she loves sweets), Nosey (he does nosies with them), GG (short for great-grandma) and Pupa (something got lost in translation of Boompa from Mr. Hobb's Takes a Vacation).

There are endless choices to choose from and create — how do your tots refer to their grandparents?
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milosmommy 5 years 8 weeks

I called my mom's parents grandma and grandpa, my dad's parents were grandma and grumpa (because he was grumpy..lol). My son has 6 grandparents because I have step-parents. My husbands mom prefers to be called Mama and his dad is Papa. My mom is Grandma Cindi and Step-Dad is Grandpa John. My Step-Mom isn't even 40 yet and says she's way too young to be a grandma so prefers Nana and my dad says he's Goofpa because he's goofy. But my son doesn't even talk yet so we'll see what he ends up saying.

laj7465 5 years 8 weeks

I was the first grandchild in my family. I started calling my grandmother Mamoo. My parents believe I was hearing my mom and aunts call her Mama and that is how I imitated them. From that I started calling my grandpa Papoo. They stuck and now all 11 grandchildren call them that! I am sure when my daughter starts talking she will too! My mother wants my daughter to just call her what she comes up with so only time will tell! We call my dad Pa.

clareberrys 5 years 8 weeks

my grandparents were Granna and Grandaddy and Nana and Grandpa....who knows what my children will call my parents!

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 8 weeks

my parents are grandma and grandpa to the grandkids, my niece calls her great grandmother Mor-Mor which is taken from Bestamor and that is norwegian for grandmother. My husbands parents, when they become grandparents, want grandma and granpa too.I personally called my grandparents Granny and Pappa, and thier parents Grandpa-great and grandma-great.

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 8 weeks

my parents are grandma and grandpa to the grandkids, my niece calls her great grandmother Mor-Mor which is taken from Bestamor and that is norwegian for grandmother. My husbands parents, when they become grandparents, want grandma and granpa too. I personally called my grandparents Granny and Pappa, and thier parents Grandpa-great and grandma-great.

eeeyore138 5 years 8 weeks

my grandparents on my dad's side are Nana Bea and Pop Pop. on my mom's side it was just Nana. Now that my new nephew has been born, (i'm Aunt J!) on his mom's side its grandma and grandpa, on my bro's side its Nana and Pop (although he wasn't sure what he wanted to be called for a long time so we were calling him Big Guy, which has sorta stuck.

buch1979 5 years 8 weeks

I always called my grandparents Grandma & Grandpa last name. My little man has named my husband's parents maam, and pap. My mother is mem mem, step father is dee dee, father is greepapa, and stepmother mem Mara. All three are so happy to be called whatever he wants to call them, ah the benefits of being the first grandchild.

new 5 years 8 weeks

i called my grandparents oma (grandma in dutch) scotty and opa (grandpa in dutch) scotty (because they had a poodle that was called scotty). but when the dog died, my grandma became gangster oma (she's kinda evil-looking) and just grandpa+lastname. i called my great-grandma klein omaatje which means little grandma, because she was tiny.

stina829 5 years 8 weeks

My son is too little to call them anything, but I'm sure he'll think up names for them... I called my dad's parents Grandmom and Granddad... And my mom's parents I called Grandma and Papaw. And my great grandparents were Papaw Wiley (his name) and Mamaw. I'm interested in seeing what he eventually calls his grandparents!

stina829 5 years 8 weeks

My son is too little to call them anything, but I'm sure he'll think up names for them...I called my dad's parents Grandmom and Granddad... And my mom's parents I called Grandma and Papaw. And my great grandparents were Papaw Wiley (his name) and Mamaw. I'm interested in seeing what he eventually calls his grandparents!

lickety split 5 years 8 weeks

when we're talking about them it's "grandma (city where they live", like "grandma/grandpa san francisco". when we're there it's grams and gramps.

khrystena 5 years 8 weeks

We have always said Nanny and Grampy for my mom's parents, my fathers growing up were Memere and Pepere (french for grandparents) Now, my mom is Nanny D and my inlaws are Nanny and poppy. if my father was still around he would be Grampy also. As for great grandparents they are all on the other side of the country from us.

khrystena 5 years 8 weeks

We have always said Nanny and Grampy for my mom's parents, my fathers growing up were Memere and Pepere (french for grandparents)Now, my mom is Nanny D and my inlaws are Nanny and poppy. if my father was still around he would be Grampy also. As for great grandparents they are all on the other side of the country from us.

uptown_girl 5 years 8 weeks

Oh crap, I wrote a book again! haha

uptown_girl 5 years 8 weeks

I have a Grandma, and my beloved grandfather was Pop. On the other side, my dad's mom was Mammy. My dad's father died before my parents were married, and my grandmother remarried 10 years later, just a month before I was born, so we called her husband by his name, Harry. But his daughter's children call him Pappy (my stepcousins). If that makes sense! I have an uncle who is now a Pop (he used the same name his father used), and my aunt is Mimi. My other aunt, who became a grandma in her 40s, felt too young to be a grandma (her children were 18 & 14, it was the 18 year old's gf who was pregnant), so she used her childhood nickname that her grandfather gave her, Tootie. My mom decided she wants to just be Grams. A couple weeks ago she was begging me to have a baby, but after this Easter with my cousins' 4 children: ages 18months, 3, 4, and 5; she told me she doesn't want to be a grandma yet! It was mayhem, as we were celebrating Easter AND the 3 year old's birthday.

uptown_girl 5 years 8 weeks

I have a Grandma, and my beloved grandfather was Pop. On the other side, my dad's mom was Mammy. My dad's father died before my parents were married, and my grandmother remarried 10 years later, just a month before I was born, so we called her husband by his name, Harry. But his daughter's children call him Pappy (my stepcousins). If that makes sense!I have an uncle who is now a Pop (he used the same name his father used), and my aunt is Mimi.My other aunt, who became a grandma in her 40s, felt too young to be a grandma (her children were 18 & 14, it was the 18 year old's gf who was pregnant), so she used her childhood nickname that her grandfather gave her, Tootie.My mom decided she wants to just be Grams. A couple weeks ago she was begging me to have a baby, but after this Easter with my cousins' 4 children: ages 18months, 3, 4, and 5; she told me she doesn't want to be a grandma yet! It was mayhem, as we were celebrating Easter AND the 3 year old's birthday.

amers230 5 years 8 weeks

mine were just grandma and grandpa, with their last names attached if we were talking to them in the third person (grandma wallace, grandpa wallace, and grandma wilkerson.) when i have kids i'll probably leave it up to my parents what they want to be called, but we're a pretty traditional family. i think i'd rather use first names than last though. not sure how my fam got stuck on the last name thing.

lynp 5 years 8 weeks

When I was born, my dad's mom decided she was too young to be called grandma, so we called her Umma and my grandpa was Doc. That's what my daughter calls them now. My parents are Nana and Papa to her and her other set are Gramma Nikki and Granpa Len.

kikidawn 5 years 8 weeks

I call my grandparents Nenah and Papa and my other grandmother is Mammaw. And I called my great-grandmother "granny". But she has since passed on :( My nephews call my parents Nini (pronounced knee-knee) and Grumpy. My nephew couldn't say Grampy and it turned into Grumpy! So cute! :) As far as what my kids will call my s/o's parents--- I have no idea! They will have his dad and his mom & stepdad. So who knows. :)

kikidawn 5 years 8 weeks

I call my grandparents Nenah and Papa and my other grandmother is Mammaw. And I called my great-grandmother "granny". But she has since passed on :(My nephews call my parents Nini (pronounced knee-knee) and Grumpy. My nephew couldn't say Grampy and it turned into Grumpy! So cute! :)As far as what my kids will call my s/o's parents--- I have no idea! They will have his dad and his mom & stepdad. So who knows. :)

heathaD 5 years 8 weeks

Nana and Papa, and Mimi and PopPop. :)

SusanTeufel 5 years 8 weeks

My grandparents were both Grandma and Grandpa. I know many people who call their grandparents many unusual things. Though, on a similar subject, my nephew calls my other brother "Jungle Dave", which is cute. Somehow it's easier than Uncle.

SusanTeufel 5 years 8 weeks

My grandparents were both Grandma and Grandpa. I know many people who call their grandparents many unusual things.Though, on a similar subject, my nephew calls my other brother "Jungle Dave", which is cute. Somehow it's easier than Uncle.

JennyJen 5 years 8 weeks

My parents are Grammy and Pop-pop and my MIL is Bobcia (Polish for grandmother). She calls my grandparent Granny and Pop-Pop-Pop. My parents already had their names and I picked my MIL's - because I love the Polish connection. The great grandparents' names just kind of took their own form!

JennyJen 5 years 8 weeks

My parents are Grammy and Pop-pop and my MIL is Bobcia (Polish for grandmother). She calls my grandparent Granny and Pop-Pop-Pop.My parents already had their names and I picked my MIL's - because I love the Polish connection. The great grandparents' names just kind of took their own form!

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