alternative names for "grandma"?

coolestgirlever · May 2010

Ok, so my mom is only in her mid 40's, and I know that she doesn't want to/isn't ready to be called "grandma/nana/nanny/grammy/etc". Do you know of any other kinds of names that she could be called? I'm trying to think of some alternatives for her.

Ex., my friend's son calls his mom "Honey"

TIA!!

jorae · May 2010

My DD calls my MIL Lolli and FIL Pop. (Lolli-Pop, it was MIL's idea but it kinda works.)

katietclintt · May 2010

My mom insists on being called GiGi because she's not ready to be grandma either.

steff13914 · May 2010

My mom feels the same way! She wants to be called Moppy! I think that's just a tad ridiculous! I like Grammy and Gramps or GiGi and Gramps.

yale · May 2010

Mam-ma, Mimi, Memay, Mem, Gram

PrincessShay80 · May 2010

My mom started calling herself Mimi to DD. But my neice calls my mom Giffer- becaue she says my mom always has gifts for her- so she is the giffer!

We all think its so cute- it has stuck!!

tct1219 · May 2010

My mom is Mimzy or YaYa, depending on the kid. Just FYI, if you really want a big list, there are several books (check Amazon) for Grandparent nicknames.

kitkat0308 · May 2010

My mom is in her early 40's and didn't want to be called Grandma either. She overheard the nickname Noni. And thats what we have DD call her. DH's mom is Grandma, and she is in her mid 40's and doesn't mind it.

ctana · May 2010

My mom's name is Maryann and is called Mimi by my sister's children and my younger cousins. Some day my DS will call her that as well. It fits. Even at 62 she seems too young for "Grandma"

MelodyKate · May 2010

My mom will be Nannie- it goes back for several generations in our family. Others I have heard are Mimi, Gigi, Goggy, Lolli, and Ma'ams. Ma'ams was for a young grandmother, and it definitely fit her.

brookelynpaisley · May 2010

My cousin calls his grandma Moree. She said it was Irish or something for Grandma, But I'm not finding it. I can't imagine my parents as "grandma and grandpa" either. Here's a link: https://www.thenewparentsguide.com/grandparents-nicknames.htm

erin.m · May 2010

My mom goes by Noni. My step mom is Grammie and DH's mom is Grandma.

coolestgirlever · May 2010

Thank you all for the suggestions, and brooke for the link Smile

My mom is just sooo super picky about practically everything, so I want to be armed with some ideas when that time comes!

MelCfromMN · May 2010

DH is Italian and he called his grandma Nonni, which means grandparents in Italian, but there is also Nonna (grandma). Honestly though, unless it is an ethnic thing, she's a grandma, why is it such a big deal to be called grandma?

*Scuzzlebutt* · May 2010

My MIL goes by Mimi because she wasn't even 40 when she became a grandmother. She didn't want something that sounded "old".

DH's aunt goes by Fifi.

audraleigh · May 2010

My MIL goes by Mims...I think it is cute and different...She is also a younger grandmother and it fits her. I also know some other kids who call their grandmother Marmie like from Little Women, I thought that was cute as well.

KentuckyKate · May 2010

All the grandmother names in my family:

Mimi

Gigi

Oma

Mamaw

Tee

Nana

Grandma

Moo Moo

Also, my mom's side is from a very rural part of TX, and the tradition with them is Mama+FN and Daddy+FN for all the grandparents. For example, I have a Mama Sig and Daddy John, Mama Liz and Daddy Bob, and Mama Johnny and Daddy Lonnie. Also a Papa Don, because Daddy Don sounds weird.

krogers0905 · May 2010

The Cosby Show did an episode about this when Sandra was having the twins. Included in the list their mothers came up with was:

Mother the sequal

Mother once removed

Golden mother

Experienced mother

sunnyday016 · May 2010

kitkat0308:
My mom is in her early 40's and didn't want to be called Grandma either. She overheard the nickname Noni. And thats what we have DD call her. DH's mom is Grandma, and she is in her mid 40's and doesn't mind it.

Noni is Italian, and that's what my grandma wants DD to call her.

My mom wants DD to call her Mimi.

MIL goes by Nana.

CamrynnsMommy · May 2010

My mom is also in her mid-40s and was not having any part of grandma. So my daughter calls her "Nene"

anna7602 · May 2010

Grandmothers who insist on not being called "grandma" drive me nuts. My MIL is one of them. She suggested 8-billion names for herself during my entire pregnancy and I hated it. DH had to ask her to stop talking to me about it. IMO, if she was the one with the issue, it was her task to find a name, not mine.

Anyway, after all of that, DD decided at 18 months that she would call her "La-la." And it stuck. I say let your child decide a name.