Naming the Grandparents
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31724
Printed Date: 27 April 2025 at 7:38pm
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Topic: Naming the Grandparents
Posted By: LionessNZ
Subject: Naming the Grandparents
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 7:59pm
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At the moment we've (Mum and I) been having an ongoing discussion about what our baby will call her grandparents when she arrives. She's due in April. Hubby's mum wants to be called Nana, which is fine and Im not sure about his dad, but my parents are at a loss as to what they want to be called, especially my mum. She definitely doesn't want to be nanny and isn't keen on Grandma or Gran, but other than that doesn't have a clue.
What do your kids call their grandparents? Do you have any ideas for grandparent names that are a little different? Our baby won't see much my parents much because they live in a different island to us, so we want to have something that she can associate them with from a young age. |
Replies:
Posted By: SquishysMum
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 8:17pm
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DD has a Grandma and Grandad, and a Granny and Grumpy (was meant to be Grampy, but you know kids...). We have greats called Nan and Dandy (again, meant to be Grandy...) but on my side they're all Grandma and Grandad.
All the best figuring it out, and welcome to OHbaby! |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 8:31pm
| My parents are Nana and Grandad, DH's parents are Gran and Poppa, and DH's Grandma is Grandma.... |
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 8:48pm
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I have Nana and Grandad, and Grandma and Grandick (his name is Dick, my sister, the first grandchild, kept calling him "Dick" until a compromise was reached - and it stuck for the rest of us grandkids).
DH has Nana and Grandad, and Nanny and Poppa. Hannah has Grandma and Grandad, Nan and Poppa, and Grampa.  No wonder you're having trouble! There's so many options!!
Good luck!  ------------- 
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Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 8:54pm
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We have - Nana and Grandad M, Nan-nan and Grandad, Grandpa and Grandma, and Cambridge Grandma. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: rorylex
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 8:56pm
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my mum is nan and dh's mum is grandma.
though for a while i was mummy and my mum was just mum lol. my oldest still calls her mum though. we dont see dh's dad enough i suppose he is just grandad, my grandad on my dads sides signs things with poppy not that i ever called him that. there is also Oma we get a bit of confussion when my grandma is over and i pipe up and say look grandma is here and they run out expecting to see my mil. ------------- Mummy to 4 boys Samuel - 18.6.05 Rory - 15.7.06 Mason - 13.06.08 Emmett - 24.01.10 Baby #5 - cooking |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:01pm
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My Mum was so unprepared to be a "Grandmother" and was really unsure about what to be called. As soon as that baby came out (she happened to be there) she was an extremely proud Grandma, she named herself at the right time.
Your Mum will probably be the same. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:03pm
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We have Nana and Grandad,
& Gran and Ace. Ace is shortened version of his name, and kinda cool 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:09pm
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My mum is known by her name, my Dad is Poppy. DH's parents are Nonna & Nonno, his grandmother is Bisnonna (to DD) or just Nonna to DH and I.
My mums old hairdresser was known as 'Bubbles' cause she loved her bubbly  Always thought that was cute
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:20pm
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We have Granny and Poppa, and Nana (and I guess FIL if he bothered to acknowledge his grandchildren would be grandad). My grandma is Grandma (although called ma-mar), and our Nana's are just Nana too.
Mum took ages deciding too. |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:23pm
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My parents are Grandma and Grandy although Jack pronounces them MaaMaa and Da-dad. DH's parents are Nana and Poppa. ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:29pm
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My mum was another one who didnt feel ready to be a Nana or Grandma. We agreed on the name Granna and it has really stuck (well apart from the fact that Maddi can't say it and calls her NAAAAAAAAAna).
All up they have a Granna, Poppa, Grandy(Gran) and Pop, Nana and Grandpa, Grandma and Grandad, Oma and Opa and a Great Nana. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:47pm
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My DH's parents are Gran and Grandad, my parents are Grandma and Grandy (although my Mum really wanted to be called Grand-mamah ) -------------   
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:50pm
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My mum and dad are nana and grandad, DH's parents are Pop and Nai Nai(said like N-eye N-eye).
My nana and grandad are are Grandma and Poppa and we never see DH's grandparents sp they dont have names lol Dh's mum is Nai Nai because she didnt like anything else and she likes to be different, its taken me 20 months to get used to it and is till dont really like it...------------- |
Posted By: noisybaby
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 9:56pm
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When we had this discussion with my mum she was adament she was not going to be called grandma or nana as she said they reminded her of old people. Since DD was born the grandma title has been thrust upon her with no argument from her since. She loves her granddaughter to bits and sees her everyday and DD knows shes grandma. We have grandma and granddad(my parents) and oma and opa (husbands parents) and my grandma is GG(great grandma) Funny thing was PIL's wanted to be grandma and grandad but we ended up naming them oma and opa anyway. She hardly sees them even though they live 10mins away so to me it didnt matter what they were called. It wouldn't have been fair to have them called the same as DD wouldnt have recognised them as grandparents anyway ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 10:03pm
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My parents will be grandma and granddad, not sure about DHs parents, I think his dad will be called pop.
DH's grandma is called mum mum (hes American, so I guess its mom mom) and she is his mums mum.... That might be an option for you? ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 10:03pm
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My parents are nana and grandad and DH's dad is Koro.
My niece calls her other grandmother by her first name (as does her mother) and that seems perfectly fine to me. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 11:03pm
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Im going to be completly different and say my grandparents are Beth and Fergus! Lol they always have been, and thats what bubs will call them i suppose. In conversation they are still my grandparents but all our family call them by their first names. Good luck ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 11:36pm
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I call my grandparents mum and dad because my mum called them that so it's kinda stuck... Guess my bubs probably will too... Even though dp thinks it's 'wrong'
Dps grandma will be Grandma Nita (Nita being her first name) and his nana and poppa will probably remain nana and poppa My mum has requested Grandma Page, because thats what she called her grandparents My dad hasn't requested anything Dp's parents want to be Nana Ana and Poppa Pete  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 8:11am
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My parents are Grammy and Grampy. My grandparents are Nana and Pop.
DH's parents are Nan and Poppy. His grandmother is GG (great gran, as everyone calls her gran anyway.) We do have issues with confusion between my grandparents and DH's parents so have tried to vary them slightly without offending. |
Posted By: NewPhoenix
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 8:16am
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. ------------- |
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 8:20am
| My Mum didn't want to be Nan, Nanna, Gran or anything of the like either. Her name is Kat so we coined Kat-ma for her - she loves it :-) |
Posted By: MyLilSquishy
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 9:34am
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DPs parents are going to be Grandma and Grandpa. my Mum and Dad are Nan and Pop. (we let them choose what they wanted to be called lol) my mum is only 43 and she said that she cant wait to be a grandma.... but doesnt want to be called grandma because it makes her sound old lol good on ya mum)
DPs grandparents have all passed on but my grandparents will be "Great" what we call them (ie. I have Nana Lila... she will be Great Nana Lila) Xela - love Kat-ma! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 9:58am
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I had three Gran's and they were Gran from Marton, Gran from Dunedin and Gran from Invercargill..lol and then Granddad and Pop.... My parents and Dh's Mum are Gran and Gran and Granddad..
My cousin's kids call her parents Juney and Poppa...(their choice) which suits them.. I am glad my parents didn't have an issue with it..cause i think i would if they wanted something different:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: bopmum
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 10:18am
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My mum is the same!!! She didn't want to be called Nana, Gran or any of the other names. So came up with Nani and then Nonu and alot more in between! But think we have settled on Nana or Nanny - it's just want has kind of stuck, might change though! Mum googled grandparents names and got heaps of sites with alternatives. I do like the Bubble's name though - my mum enjoys her bubbles!
Good luck - who would have thought what to call grandparents was more time consuming than naming your child!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Hunnybunny
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 10:39am
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DH's parents will be Oma and Opa, they are Dutch and are already Oma and Opa to 2 grand daughters in Holland, so we won't change that.
My Mum will be Nanna (although my big brothers keep calling her Oma cos she is soooo much like her mum!) and my Dad hasn't decided what he will be called... He's having trouble. My parents are only in their early 50's so as Mum said, seeing as shes only 21 it's a bit young for her to be called "grand" something Dad will probably end up being Grumps or something! LOL 
My grandmother, who I call Granny, will still be Granny. Shes already a great-grandmother to heaps and they all call her Granny so keeps it easy.. |
Posted By: X
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 11:37am
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My mum & her husband are Ouma & Oupa (Afrikaans for gran & grandpa). My dad is Grandpa & his new wife is Denise (we don't know her very well because they live in South Africa & only got together a few months before we emigrated).
DH's mum & dad are Granny & Pa. My Ouma is Ouma Groot (great-grandmother in afrikaans), & my granny is Great-granny. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 12:20pm
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My mum and dad are Nana and Papa. We tease my mum that she should be Grannie Maria but she is fine with except she HATES the thought that it might be shortened to just Grannie (what we call her MIL).
DP's dad is Poppa and his mum still hasn't decided what she will be but I think it will be something like Gran or Grandma. I have two Grandad's, a Grannie and a Nan. I'm told that when I was small I used to call one of my Grandad's "Big Dad" as that was what made sense to me I had a Dad and a Big Dad! Haha, but I must have phased it out and started calling him Grandad because that's what all the other Grandkids called him.
DP has a Gran and Grandad. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Itchy_feet
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 12:49pm
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I'm the same as Hunnbunny - have Dutch ancestory so my parents will be Oma and Opa and my DHs parents will be Grandma and Grandad.
When I was a kid both sets of grandparents were called Grandma and Grandad and I would differentiate between the two by calling one lot 'Big' cos they were tall, and the others 'little' cos they were short. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:07pm
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Oops Double post
------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:58pm
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Rorylex summed up our side of the family already (mum is Nan to all her grandkids as she became a grandmother at the age of 40 and did NOT want to be grandma R... as thats her ex MIL! And Granny, nana, grandma etc sounded too old... so Nan was her choice)
DS calls his other grandmother Nana Jill (first name, she didnt want to be nana T... as thats her MIL) and his Grandad is just grandad... my father died when I was only 3, so he had no other grandad to get mixed up with. His godmothers parents are Nana Lyn and Poppa Roy as they were like 2nd parents to me when I split with my ex, and they helped me get back on my feet, and since they dont have grandkids yet, 'adopted' us into their family and became honorary grandparents DPs mum was going to be Nana Griff and his dad is Poppy Griff (they are about the same age as my grandparents and she waited a LONG time for grandchildren) as Griff has always been his nickname (part of his surname)... he even has it on his licence plate  ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: Richie
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:13pm
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DF's mum and dad already have 12 grandchildren and they all call them Nanny and Grandy so we will stick with that. My Dad is simply grandad to my neice and nephew so again, we will have to stick with that, and my Mum (much to her disgust) gets called Granny. When my sis was pregnant with her first (also mums first grandchild) we used to tease her that she was gunna be a granny and it just stuck lol poor Mum. And my Nana (my only surviving grandparent will just stay Nana) and DF's Nan will stay Nan as well. -------------  
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Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:35pm
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B has 8 grandparents, so we have
Nana and Poppa Gran and Grumps Grandad Bun and Suzi Grandad and Trish and then theres the great grandparents which are just great grandma and nanny |
Posted By: RinTinTin
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:37pm
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My parents are Gran and Poppa. DP's parents are Nana and Grandad. I know DP use to call one of his gandmothers "Pinky" My Dad use to call his grandfather "Dada" I think to an extent it kind of ends up being whatever happens to come out of the kids mouth. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: gypsynita
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 4:38pm
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we're much the same - but my nephew's grandma is called "granajane" following on tradition - her mum is Granadora... which i think is kinda cute.
we've got a NanaG and a PoppaK as well as the stock standard granma & grandpa (although his name hasn't really been decided yet - he wanted to be Grumpa) ------------- Anita Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 11:06pm
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My mum is Nanma and my Dad is Grandpa, DH parents are Oumi and Oupi. My grandmother is Nanny.
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Posted By: julzw
Date Posted: 19 February 2010 at 1:13pm
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My Mum also didn't want to be Nana or Granny etc as she felt like she was too young... She spent ages trying to come up with an alternative. Her name is Carolyn, so she was thinking Caro, or Linny. In the end she decided on Nana Lin, but Neeky just calls her Nana and now Mum is over it. My Dad is Poppa and the in-laws are Mama (chinese for grandma on dad's side) and Poppa. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: dango_chan
Date Posted: 19 February 2010 at 11:56pm
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My dad's mother was always known as Nin. The eldest grandchild had pronunciation problems and it stuck. His dad died before I was born so we referred to him as Grandad-*surname*
Mum's parents were Nana and Grandad. My mum will be Nana and DH's mum will hopefully be Gran. Although I fear the Ganny (no r) that the nephews call her may stick. My dad is no longer with us, and I have no idea what step dad in law will be called..??
I know of a Nonny as well. She too thought Nana was too old sounding so settled on Nonny instead. ------------- 
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Posted By: LionessNZ
Date Posted: 20 February 2010 at 12:17am
| Thanks for all the ideas everyone. Well mum is still fussing, I think she wants to be Nanna Lynne, but I'm Carolyn, and my daughter will be Summer Lynne (middle name, not hypenated) and she thinks that will be too confusing for Summer. I think dad just wanted to be Jock, as that's his nickname (from the Edna and Jock cartoons) but Mum disapproved so we are back to the drawing board on that one. Honestly, my husband and I didn't have this much trouble naming our daughter! |
Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 21 November 2010 at 3:57pm
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Bump, heres one for grandparent names ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 21 November 2010 at 4:56pm
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I had a thread on this in general chat, i think it was about 4 pages long. Be about 2 or 3 pages back now if anyone wants extra reading material.
My mom is horrified at being given an old name, so i am determined to find the 'oldest' sounding name out - i'm thinking granny is in - and refer to her as such. |
Posted By: mum2QTs
Date Posted: 22 November 2010 at 10:45am
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My mum is Gamma, and dad Poppy, my husband is from India so his parents are called Dada and Dadi, and my Grandparents are called the same i call them, though they don't see them much, they know who they are in photos.
Ehhee it's a bit like finding a name for your little one, good luck
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Posted By: Bambino
Date Posted: 22 November 2010 at 4:50pm
| Thank you for bumping! |