Some people feel ‘I am too young to be a granny; don’t call me that!’
In addition, parental and grandparental names are more complicated nowadays because the traditional nuclear family has moved into blended families, step families, same-sex families, non-binary families. There can be internal friction in trying to force a stepchild to call you mum, or you may have many sets of grandparents you may not want to call by their name or title. I have taught children with two fathers or mothers and they tend to go for Mum/Mummy or Dad/Daddy/Dada for their parents.
I can remember once in class, the teacher asked us what our parents’ first names were. At least half the class did not know. Their parents were just mom and dad. Nowadays it is more common to call your parents by their first name (or to at least know what it is). My bonus nieces and nephews call me by my first name rather than auntie.
I lost my biological mother (who I called Mom) early. I was lucky enough to find a second mom in my aunt, who I call Mom2, or Momsie. My stepdaughter calls me Mum, Mamma, or Janet
I found this nice list of grandma names
- Amma
- Gigi
- Gogo (used in South Africa)
- Grams
- Grammie
- Memere
- Nai-Nai
- Nanna
- Nonna
- Ouma (used in South Africa)
- Omi
In upstate New York, USA — My Grandmas were both “Grandma” and my Great Grandmas were all “Great Grandma.”
If I’m lucky enough to be a Grandma, I plan for them to call me “Mimi” since my name is Michelle and my husband is Michael. (His paternal grandparents were Grams & Grandad – he plans to go by Grandad.)
I love the topic of names and nicknames, honorifics and titles – such as they are. Thanks Janet. xo
I had Grandma, my paternal grandmother, and Mammaw, my maternal grandmother who lived in Tennessee, USA. My nephew named my mother, his maternal grandmother, Bamba. I have no idea why, but she liked it and went with it.
In France we call grandmothers either Mémée, Mamie or Grandmaman. Mémère is kind if pejorative and not well accepted by elderly ladies.
Thank you for this Nathalie!
There’s also Wela – short for Abuela (Spanish).
Vivian
Thank you for this. I like Wela!