Goldie Hawn's oldest grandson is now 19 years old, and he's been calling her "Glam-Ma" ever since he can remember. Judi Dench regularly appears on TikTok alongside her grandson, who endearingly calls her "Ma." Apparently, Kris Jenner insists on being called "Lovely" by her grandkids, and Sharon Osbourne is "Shazza" to hers. If it hasn't already been made clear, grandma names are evolving fast and often deviating from the traditional. The reason? It's hard to separate certain titles from the stereotypes that surround them. While there's nothing wrong with the quaint image of a little old lady with white hair and butterscotch candies in her purse, not all women are eager to embrace it as their own. If you find yourself in a similar position, then keep reading below. This original list of cool grandmother names may help you find your most important nickname.
When Did We Start Assigning Nicknames for Grandparents?
We can thank the Boomer generation for the recent uptick in hip grandmother names, but the traditional concept goes much further back. There was a point in time where the word "grandma" didn't even exist. The most closely related term was "ealdemodor," an Old English word sounds similar to "old mother" when said out loud. It wasn't until the early 1400s that the Anglo-Saxons decided to borrow from the French and came up with the word, "grandam," which is "grand" and "dame" merged together. From that point on, English speakers had a new word to use when referring to an "old lady," "great lady," or even a "great mother."
What Are the Most Popular Nicknames for Grandmother?
DisobeyArt / ShutterstockIt's estimated that there are over 350 languages signed and spoken across the U.S. So it's no surprise that the list of names we commonly call our grandmothers varies widely from state to state.
According to a study conducted by Preply, a language tutoring platform, names such as "Granny," "Nana," and "Mawmaw" remain the most popular across the country, though alternative picks like "Gigi," "Bibi," and "Momo" steadily gaining steam. "Abuela" also ranks high on the list in states with large Hispanic populations, including Texas, Arizona, and California. Other top contenders include "Nanny," Grammy," and "Gram."
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How to Choose a Cute Grandma Name
Coming up with fun nicknames for the modern grandmother is an important task. Check out the tips below for figuring out the right nickname for you and your family:
Family History: Many grandparent names are dictated by language and culture. While some folks may like the idea of coming up with something new and original, others are proud to accept more traditional names associated with their heritage.
For instance, according to the study mentioned above, "Bubbe," the Yiddish word for grandma remains one of the most popular nicknames within New Jersey, a state with one of the biggest Jewish populations in the country. Similarly, the top pick for residents of Pennsylvania is "Oma," the German equivalent of grandmother. Unsurprisingly, the state houses the largest German population in the country.
Personal Preference: Whether you want to go with something that screams, "She's the fun grandmother," or stick to a name that's more representative of your background, it's entirely up to you. There are few wrong answers here.
How Easy It Is to Pronounce: Wanting to come up with a cute nickname that represents who you are outside of being a grandmother is perfectly valid, but it's also important to consider who will be using it most often. Certain words are harder for kids to pronounce than others. Even if you go with a more traditional title, you may want to tweak things for the very little ones who have yet to perfect their speech.
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Modern Grandma Names
MandriaPix/Shutterstock- Abba
- Abbi
- Amma
- Babe
- Bama
- Bamba
- Bebe
- Bella
- Gigi
- Glam-Ma
- Glancy
- Lala
- Lovely
- Kiki
- Kitty
- Mimzy
- Momo
- Nini
- Pippa
Traditional Grandmother Names
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock- Gram or Grams
- Grammy or Grammie
- Grandame
- Grandma
- Grandma [Last Name]
- Grandmama
- Grandmom
- Grandmother
- Granny or Grannie
- Gran or Gran Gran
- Mama [Last Name]
- Nana
- Nan
Funny Nicknames for Grandma
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock- Big Mama
- Big Mom
- Bobo
- Bubbles
- Cookie
- Gramma Bear
- Granno
- Granny Cupcakes
- Granny Pie
- Huggy
- Instagran
- Marmar
- Moo Moo
- Yutu
Cool Grandma Names
CameraCraft/Shutterstock- Babs
- Cha-Cha
- Coco
- Didi
- Gee
- G-Mama
- G-Mom
- Grana
- Ma
- Mu
- Nandy
- Viva
- Zaza
RELATED: 118 Muslim Girl Names (With Meanings!).
Cute Grandma Names
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock- Apa
- Birdy
- Honey
- Lollie or Lolly
- Lulu
- Mimi
- Nanny
- Queenie
- Sassy
- Sugar
- Sweetie
- Teenie or Teeny
- Tootsie
Southern Grandmother Names
Nastuffa/Shutterstock- Bomma
- Bunny
- Maw-Maw
- Mamaw
- Meemaw or MeMaw
- Gramma
- Gammie
- Gramaw
- Mama [First Name]
- Mammy
- Mimi
- Mimsy
- Nene
RELATED: 50+ Beautiful Japanese Baby Names (With Meanings!).
How to Say "Grandma" in Other Languages
fizkes/ShutterstockArabic: The most common Arabic name for grandmother is "Jadati," though there are many different words you can use depending on the dialect being spoken.
French: The most common grandmother names in France are “Grand-mère,” “Grand-maman” and “Mémé.”
Gaelic: Scottish Gaelic speakers use the word "Seanmhair" for grandma, which means "good mother." Other commonly used Scottish grandmother names include “Nana,” “Nanna,” “Mhamó” and “Mamó.”
German: The German word for grandmother is "Oma.”
Greek: The Greek name for a grandmother is “Yia-yia." Popular variations also include “Yiayia,” “Yaya” and “Ya-ya.”
Hawaiian: In Hawaii, the formal word for grandmother is “Kuku Wahine” or “Tutu Wahine,” but many shorten the term to “Tutu.”
Mandarin Chinese: In Mandarin, maternal and paternal grandparents are assigned different names. In other words, grandmothers are named based on which side of the family they stem from. The paternal grandmother typically goes by "Zu mu," though "Nai nai" is also commonly used. Maternal grandmothers may be called “Wai zu mu,” “Lao lao,” or “Wai puo.”
Polish: The traditional grandma name in Poland is “Babcia" though “Babunia" is also commonly used.
Russian: The Russian word for grandmother is “Babushka.”
Spanish: In Spanish, grandmothers are known as “Abuela.” Some families also use "Abuelita" as a more informal term of endearment.
Swahili: Those who speak Swahili call their grandmothers “Bibi.”
Yiddish: The Yiddish word for grandmother is “Bubbeh,” which can also be spelled “Bubbe” and “Bubbie.”
Wrapping Up
That's it for our list of grandmother names, but be sure to check back in with us soon for even more ways to connect with the ones you love. You can also sign up for our newsletter to enjoy similar content, as well as the latest in wellness, entertainment, and travel.
