"Where would we be without our grandmothers? From tender-hearted to spirited, and everything in between, the grandmas in our lives—whether our own or our children’s—have shown us the true limitlessness of love. For this, they deserve a proper name of honor in our families, one that’s endearing, reflective of our culture, and easy for little ones to say.
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For inspiration, we asked The Everymom readers to share the names their kids have bestowed upon their family’s beloved matriarchs. Below are their responses as well as some of our own personal favorites—nicknames full of heart, history, and a dash of humor—that are perfect for grandmas. Read on for 30 sweet nicknames for grandmas to consider for your family, too.
1. Nana
Children across English-speaking countries often refer to their grandmothers as nana. Short and sweet, the repeat syllables are easy on little ones just learning to speak.
2. Lita
Many readers shared that their mothers and grandmothers go by lita, an adorable short-form of abuelita, the less-formal Spanish word for grandmother.
3. Gma
For beginning talkers, grandma can be quite a mouthful. Lucky for them, this funny, little nickname makes a perfectly simple substitute.
4. Baachan
Our readers of Japanese heritage shared that the grandchildren in their families use the sweet baachan to honor grandmothers.
5. Babcia
In Polish families, grandmothers around the world often take the name of baba or babcia.
6. Oma
For readers with German ties, the tender-sounding oma is a popular stand-in for grandma.
7. Maemae
For French flair, the charming maemae leads the pack in stylish nicknames for grandmother.
8. Pó Po
For Chinese families who speak Cantonese, there’s a dedicated name for each grandmother. Pó po is meant to distinguish each family’s maternal grandmother.
9. Gran
Gran gives off distinctively British vibes, though anyone the world can claim this cute-as-can-be name for grandma. Here, we’ll also lump in all the similar variations: granny, gram, grammy, and grams, as well.
10. Aachi
In the Tamil language, spoken in India, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, families use aachi as an endearing term for grandmothers.
11. Grandmama
Readers may be familiar with the stately grandmama, used most often across the southern U.S.
12. Mimi
A simple name with a repeated syllable, this nickname rolls off even the smallest of tongues.
13. Nonnie
Readers shared that their little ones use the name nonnie in their families, which may be a play on the Italian nonna.
14. Bà Nội
Our Vietnamese readers chimed in to share bà nội as a name for their family’s paternal grandmother. Bà ngoại is used widely to refer to maternal grandmothers.
15. G
When only the simplest name will do, G makes the perfect substitute for grandmother. Though finding an equally easy name for grandpa might be a tall order.
16. Safta
Jewish readers shared this sweet-sounding name for grandmothers which, according to Kveller, is a good pick for a young-at-heart grandma. A common variation on the name is savta.
17. Nan
A grandmother swap-in with roots in England, nan is adorable on its own or as an accompaniment to nana.
18. Gigi
Often used to shorten great-grandmother for beginning speakers, this charming nickname makes for a chic alternative to grandma, too.
19. Aba
Another short form of the Spanish abuelita or abuela, aba is a cute name that little ones can easily pronounce.
20. YaYa
For Greek families, yaya or yiayia is a common nickname for grandmothers.
21. Lollie
A cutesy name like Lollie is a great option that will sound adorable spoken by little ones. Pair it with a grandpa nickname of Pop to make the ultimate duo.
22. Amma
It may be much easier for a little one to pronounce “Amma” before they can say “grandma,” and it doesn’t get much cuter than this option.
23. Coco
For a chic grandma who’s never without a spritz of Chanel No. 5, Coco may be the perfect pet name.
24. Queenie
As the matriarch of your family, it’s only right to bestow a regal title. Queenie is cute, charming, and will put a smile on her face each time she hears it.
25. Bubbie
This sweet nickname happens to be the title Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s granddaughter used for her. Talk about a namesake!
26. Glamma
Just because she’s a grandma doesn’t mean she loses a single ounce of glam. For the elegant grandmother, look no further.
27. Lola
Inspired by the Filipino language where Lola means “grandma,” we love that this nickname is short and sweet and easy to say.
28. Bibi
Another repeating syllables option, bibi means “grandmother” in Swahili.
29. Bella
Meaning “beautiful,” this option is fit for a grandma who’s just as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside.
30. Birdy
Cutesy animal names have been associated with grandmas for a long time now. Consider this precious name or something similar, such as Bunny, for a nickname with plenty of history.
Lizzie Goodman, Contributing Writer
Lizzie is an editor and writer specializing in pregnancy, child development, and parenting. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two young daughters in a funny old house filled with books.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!