(Nana Name)

My kids call my mom "Gop" and she loves it! She says it is unique. We had planned for her to be Grammie, but Gop was the first thing out of their mouths and it appears she will be Gop forever. My kids are now four and now, in addition to Gop, call her "the Gopster," "Goppity Gop Gop," and all types of strange variations on their theme. What fun!

-- Darcie D.

(Nana Name)

"Nai-Nai" is Chinese for Grandma. Pronounced: N with a long I.  We adopted our daughter from China and this is what I will be called as Grandma!!

-- Heather L.

(Nana Name)

When I found out that I was going to be a Grandma, I went on a mission to find my "name."  It was what I will be called for the rest of my life and I wanted it to be good. There would be many "Grandma's" in my granddaughter's life, so many of the names were already taken - Great Great Grandma, Great Grandma is Mamaw, my son-in-law's mother already had a grandchild who called her Grandma so we decided on the name "Grandmeem." My son-in-law called me "Meem" before they were married so I thought that would be perfect. My granddaughter at the age of 1 decided different. I am "Mimi." My heart melts when she says it. Months of searching for the "perfect name" and all I had to do was wait until my granddaughter could make the perfect choice. Oh, and by the way, her other grandma isn't Grandma anymore ... she's "GoGo."

-- CathyLynn W.

(Nana Name)

"Go Go" is the name of grandmothers in Africa. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is currently supporting a group called "Go Go Grannies."  Grandmothers in various parts of Africa (I specifically know about Kenya) raise their grandchildren due to massive deaths in the mid generation due to HIV and AIDS. It speaks to the strength of grandmothers who are charged with stepping up to the plate for their families even after dealing with the deaths of their own children and limited resources. These women are heroes.

-- Stephanie Robinson, Family Transition Place

(Nana Name)

When my Son was learning to speak we tried teaching to call my mum "Granma" and he couldn't pronounce it - it kept coming out as "Gumma." At first we tried to correct it but it was just so adorable and my mum loves it, so now that is who she is to little Harry...his Gumma.

-- Alison, Queenland Australia

(Nana Name)

I now have 3 more granddaughters and another about to be born. They all will call me Nina (in Spanish it means godmother, so says my Mexican friend). I was supposed to be Nana but Brady could not say it properly - thus Nina. I love it.

-- Paula H.

(Nana Name)

When I was a baby I didn't put the "G" on grandma, so my grandmother was Rama (and my grandfather was Papa).  I was a little embarrassed by these names when I was older, especially when I learned my cousins had different names for them.  But they were so special to me I just couldn't call them by any other name!

-- Lynn C.

(Nana Name)

My daughter is having my first grandchild in August. We have found out that she is having a girl. I will be called Mammy. My name is Tammy, but the reason that my grandchildren are going to call me Mammy is that when my daughter was in high school all her friends called me Mammy Tammy, so the name just kind of stuck. Grandpa will be called Pappy, to rhyme with Mammy.

-- Mammy Tammy

(Nana Name)

My daughter placed her grandmother's picture on the refrigerator so she could see it every time she was in the kitchen. When my grandson was born he always saw the picture hanging there. As he got older and began talking he would point to the picture and say "Grandma Fridge." My mom is now known as "Grandma Fridge" to all six of my grandchildren.

(Nana Name)

My little niece calls her dad's mother Church Granny.  When we ask her why, she said because she goes to church all the time. It' true and we laughed until it hurt.

-- Vicky M.

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

When my daughter first started trying to talk, my dad kept trying to get her to say “Papaw.” As she could only say “da da” at the time, it finally came out “Dadaw.”  My mom became Mi Mi, though we’re not quite sure how that started. The names have stuck for 26 years and through 6 grandchildren and they both love it!

-- Gina M.

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

My grandma was "Honey Bea" (her first name was Beatrice, "Bea" for short, and she always called her grandkids Honey...so she was "Honey Bea").

My grandpa was "Snazzy"...

They were absolutely full of fun...and I felt badly for anyone who did not have a "Honey Bea" and "Grandpa Snazzy" in their lives.

-- Mary D.

(Nana Name)

My father's mother was named Giggy because my big brother couldn't say Granny.

-- Mary M.

(Nana Name)

Grandmadge....this grandma was too hip to be just grandma, and her name was Madge.

-- Anne P.

(Nana Name)

Being a young Grandma, I didn't want to be Grandmaw or the other "old" names. My Mother has always been Nana. Didn't want to use that but liked it.  I had a friend that used the following name and even though she is 10 years older--but very young you'd think-- had the name for me: Grana (a combination of Grand.....and Nana.)  My husband at first called me "The Grand Banana" (kind of fits your web site).

I have a 22 month Grandson (Carson) and expecting a Grandaughter (Candence) in November. I am their GRANA!!!

-- Lisa , Mom and now "Grana"

(Nana Name)

When I was born, my mom called her grandma Nana. Well my mom's mom wanted to be a Nana as well, so I called my G'Ma "Little Nana", and my great G'Ma "Big Nana." I called my other great G'Ma "Doodles." My Mom is now a Nana, but after reading your web site, and after being told last night that I am going to be a grandma, I want to be called "Sassy." I like that since my name is Stacy. Thank you for this site!!

-- Stacy M

(Nana Name)

'Momo' (THE LONG 'O' SOUND).  The first grandchild couldn't say Oma and it came out Momo instead.

(Nana Name)

Didn't want to be Big Mama or Granny so I became "MIMI." 

My name is Judy, so the grandchildren say J-U-D-Y spells M-I-M-I. Nothing like having grandchildren - expecting the first GREAT Granddaughter anytime NOW.  We are real excited and trying to find a unique name for my daughter to be called. Her name is Lisa so we are thinking of LE-LE, isn't that cute?

-- Judy

(Nana Name)

When my kids got old enough, my dad would put candy in his pocket and fish it out in front of the grandkids, acting totally surprised to find it there! The kids quickly caught onto this (each one teaching the next), so all the grandkids now call him "Pockets."  Also, while trying to get the kids to call my mom Grandma Carol, they thought I was saying Grandma "Carrot," which is now what she is lovingly called. Loved reading the other stories like mine - so cute!

-- Marti A.

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

When our eldest son Adam was learning to speak, he couldn't pronounce Gramps - his version was Pratt. My Mum wanted to Oma, and Adam's version of that turned out to be Oomie. So they became Oomie and Pratt to all their grandchildren. The kids often had to explain the names to their friends, but we can't imagine them called anything else now.

-- Kaye from Australia

(Nana Name)

My daughter couldn't pronounce grandmaw so she came up with "Ambaw" and it has stuck ever since. Her grandmother loved it that she came up with something as a baby.

-- Cindy D.

(Nana Name)

My girls call there grandma : Nonni
My daughter could not say Grandma when she was little and somehow she started calling her Nonni. Now all the grankids call her Nonni.

- Jen S.

(Nana Name)

My granddaughter Alyssa when she was about 15 months old couldnt' say Grandma Mo so she would call me "MaMo" and it has stuck ever since and I love it!!

- Monique P.

(Nana Name)

My oldest son named my mother and mother-in-law Neeny (or Neenie as one spells it). So to keep confusion at bay we called my mom Neeny Brown (last name). I just became a grandma and don't know what I'd like to be called. I don't want to be called grandma because I'm too young. :)

Love your site!

(Nana Name)

My Grandmother was called "Granga."  The first grandchild pronounced Grandma that way and it stuck.

-- Lesley D.

(Grandpa Names)

"Graddy" came from Grandpa and Grand dad. Our grandson just combined the two when he called for his grandpa.

"Mr. Steve" started out as a joke before our granddaughter was born and just stuck.

I love your site!

-- Mari D

(Nana Name)

My daughter was the first grandchild. Her vocabulary was large but she chose the name "Pama" for her fraternal grandmother. No reason but it has stuck for twenty five years and through six grandchildren. Now I will be a grandmother for the first time and we are trying to come up with a choice name.

-- Betsy C.

(Nana Name)

I have a friend who was in Hawaii and heard a little child refer to his Hawaiian Grandma as 'TuTu', and she loved the name so much, that's what she decided to be called. It sounds so sweet hearing her grandson call her by that name.

-- Mom 2 Six

(Grandpa Name)

The name was given to me by my eldest grandson. I served in the military and was away for many years. My daughter gave him a photo of me smiling so he thought I must be happy. Funny what kids will come up with. By the way, this Grandson caused me to become a Great Grandfather on 29 August. I wonder what name my Great Grandson will use...maybe Great Pappy?

-- Happy Pappy

(Nana Name)

I was born & raised in the north but now live & raised my children in the south. I now have my first grandson. I have quite a large family and all of the common Grandmother,Grandma,Nana names were already taken so I made my own "Nawna" (naw-na) so it was Nana from the north with a "W" for the southern draw. Like I had a Mamaw &Papaw, also a Mommie & Poppie, Also my children had a Granny. So I had both northern & southern so I thought I would mix the two.

-- Nawna in VA.

(Nana Name)

When my son Wesley was a toddler, he used to spend a lot of time with my Grandmother so it was his Great Grandmother. She used to wear hearing aids and whenever you would run your hand in front of them, they would make a beeping sound. From that day on, he has always called her "Beep Beep" and it stuck and my daughter Kassandra calls her Beep Beep as well. I always though it was cute!

-- Olivia A.

(Nana Name)

My granddaughter calls me "Grrrrrrrr."  When we were teaching her to say grrrrrama she just got the grrrrrrr and it stuck. People look at us funny!!!

-- Judith S.

(Nana Name)

I have a wonderful grandmother named "JuJu" since she always used to give us JuJu candies. Anyway, I thought you could add it to the list :)

-- Justin

(Nana Name)

My grandson calls me "La La."  The reason is Elmo...when I come into his house I say "La La La La, Grandma's here"!

-- Kathryn B.

(Nana Name)

My cousin when he was 2 (now 16) named my Grandma, Nini (pronounced NeeNee). He came up with it on his own and no one to this day knows where he got it from. His parents had taken him to the emergency room because he had hit his head and had a huge golfball size knot come up on it. As soon as he saw my Grandma come in the emergency room, he ran to her crying, "Nini, Nini." The name stuck and now all my younger cousins call her Nini. My older cousins and I call her Grandma. I'm sure when I have kids I'll wind up calling her Nini too. My cousin that's the same age as me did.

-- Charity R.

(Nana Name)

We are trying to teach my 17 month old grandson to call me Granny, later it will be Granny Char. When my son was in his teens, we would joke about when he became a Dad, I had always said that I would be the coolest, hippest Granny around! When my son turned 23, he had his son, Tyler. When we were talking about who was going to be called what, my son popped up with me being Granny Char. I looked at him funny, like what? Then he reminded me of our talks, and said that is what he wants me to be called. It really touched my heart that he remembered that and it meant so much to him. It seems funny to be referred to as Granny, because I am only 42 yrs old, but it makes me smile because that name has sentimental attachment for my son and I. I can't wait until we can explain my name to Tyler, I hope it means as much to him.

-- Granny Char

(Nana Name)

I am called Mimi – which is a pretty common ‘grandma’ name. However, my mother (the great-grandmother) is called Nanny Cookie! You guessed it – she always has cookies for Zoe.

-- Mimi

(Nana Name)

I have my first "step-granddaughter." She has a quite a few "grandparents." My daughter calls me Mumsie...so Gramsie came quite naturally.

-- Gramsie

(Nana Name)

My granddaughter, Lexie, calls me Nanny and my mother Fuffy. She called my dad Grandfather, and I think she thought my mom was Grandfuffy and then she just shortened it. Now, all the great grandchildren call her Fuffy.

-- Colleen H

(Nana Name)

I call my grandmother “Ita” because when I was little I was unable to pronounce “Abuelita”

-- Kristine R.

(Nana Name)

My mother created the name for herself and "trained" if you will, my children to call her "Granmema." She had her license plates changed to that name for many many years ago.

-- Jeannette Walker

(Nana Name)

My mother-in-law is fair skinned and has white hair, while my mother is of Greek heritage and has darker hair and darker skin. When our oldest daughter was 3, she told someone she had a "white" grandma and a "brown" grandma. All our kids and grandkids call my mom "Brown Grandma" now and she loves it! Our grandkids call us Gwamma and Papa.

-- Gwamma and Papa to Kolby, Abbie, Baylee and Taylor

(Nana Name)

When I was a little girl, I called my grandma Mama Gibbs. Then as a teenager, I started calling her Granny Gibbs which stayed until my son was born. My son could not say Granny Gibbs - it came out Randi Gibbs. With that, it just became Randi.

-- Cindy H.

(Nana Name)

Our first granddaughter isn't old enough to name us yet, but I do have some funny name stories to share from my kids growing up.

Both sets of grandparents lived out of state, so the kids didn't see them very often, especially my mother, who lived the farthest. When my mother and her husband came to visit for a week, they decided it would be "easier on me" if they stayed at the Motel 6 rather than my house for the week. Never mind the fact that I had a 2 year old, a 4 year old in preschool and a 7 year old in first grade, and they had no car. I had to drive to and from their motel (10 miles each way, in between getting everyone to their schools), to pick them up, entertain and feed them. Several weeks after they left, we happened to be driving past that Motel 6, and my 4 year old said, How come we never visit "The Gramma that lives in number 6" anymore? That became her title!

When my daughter was 3 and was talking about Gramma, she became exasperated with me when I questioned which Gramma she was talking about. She said, "You know! Gramma Plain!" I thought maybe she meant my husband's mother, since she always arrived by plane....Gramma Plane. "No....just Plain Gramma!" Since she saw my husband's mom more often, she didn't need to have a last name. My mom was Gramma Yates. My husband's mom appreciated the fact that she was the "real gramma" and all others were just knock-offs.

-- New Gramma formally known as Merry K

(Nana Name)

This should be one of your most unusual names! Our first grandchild, Rachel, was just learning to assign names (and understand names of family members). During a short car trip, her Great-grandmother, my Mom, had a sneezing fit and said to Rachel, Grandma said "A-Choo" and it made Rachel laugh.

The next morning, at an extended family gathering, her Daddy, our son, asked her "who is this?" for family members. When he came to my Mother, Rachel called her "A-Choo" and to this day, Rachel will turn 4 in Dec., Great-Grandma Miller is still "A-Choo"!

-- Grandma JJ

(Nana Name)

My first grandchild is due in December. My daughter-in-law is of Spanish decent. We wanted to honor her by using Abuela as my name for grandmother but are afraid the baby will not be able to prounouce it. So, we have shortened it to Abby. Grandfather will be Pops.

-- Angela G.

(Nana Name)

My grandchildren call me Ela.  My grandson gave me that name!! 

I wanted to be called Maida.  For some reason he refused to say it, so after months of trying to get him to call me Maida, I decided Ela was just great!!! As you can see, Ela sounds nothing like Maida.

-- Ela

(Nana Name)

Hi! I came here to look for grandpa gifts, and thought I'd share my mom's name bestowed by my nephew! He calls her "Baa-Baa." Nobody knows why, but he is 4 and still calls her that! My kids both call her "Mama."

-- Lynda S, Oregon

(Nana Name)

My son called my mother MYMOM. It actually took me a little to figure out that he was just repeating what I said, "let's go over to my mom's..." or "my mom said...."

-- Jackie D.

(Nana Name)

We called my grandmother “Nunama” because when I saw her for the first time – I was almost two & the first grandchild – my parents lived in Japan because my Dad was in the Navy – my Mom said about my Grandmother, “here’s your Grandmother” and I guess I thought she said ‘another mother’ so I said “nother mother” which got shortened to Nunama. Unfortunalty, my Nunama is no longer with us and now my son calls my Mom “Nunama.”

-- Carrie L.

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

My 2 year old son calls his grandparents Na (Nana) and Bumpa (Grandpa).  Eventually we'll teach him Nana, but Bumpa has become my dad's official name. 

There is no story behind Bumpa, other than a one-year-old's interpretation of "Grampa." We gave up on his saying Grampa and his choice of "Bumpa" stuck. That's the same reason my mom is Na (pronounced like Pa) instead of Nana.

FYI: My son received a Camp Grandma backpack and sleeping mat (from his Nana, of course) for his second birthday last week and loves playing with both!

-- Susan C.

-The Little Things-

...are the most special sometimes. Went by to see Hannah last night after work. She had to stay home from "school" yesterday because she has a cold. Her Mommy wanted her to come into the kitchen to take her medicine and as she was turning the corner to go into the kitchen, she stopped, turned to me and said, "Don't leave Nana." My heart melted for the umpteen millionth time. Tell me, what did we do before they came along?

I was just so touched when that sweet face looked at me and said that (through a stopped up nose - it sounded more like "Don't weab." (haha)

-- Nana Rose

(Picture at left is Hannah dressed as Cinderella for her '05 birthday.)

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

Our two year old grandaughter, Emma, began calling my husband and me what sounded like Mama and Popti when she one. For whatever reason that evolved to me becoming a combination of those two names, so I am now "Mopati" (mo-pottie). My husband is Papa Dig (Doug). One day I said "Am I grandma?"  She laughed and said "No, that's not your name."  I love it! 

Although it's a bit unusual knowing that in her precious little mind that's who I am is all that matters!

-- Nancy B.

Hi BananaNana,
Kate and I had a fine time on our abbreviated Camp Grandma.   She was only here for 4 days but everything went smoothly. I had strained my back and she was quite helpful and sweet. We did manage to go out to lunch, to the movies and got in a little shopping, just not all in the same day. She also spent plenty of time on the phone, on the computer and making cards, her favorite new craft. She made me one a few weeks ago that said, "You are like a 'Gram' cracker, a little rough around the edges but as sweet as can be!"

I hope next year she will come again even for a few days. She has this very busy life right now, which is as it should be.

Take care.

-- Gram JoAnne

(Grandpa Name)

Boppie lived from 1841-1917. He was a captain in the Civil War, fought at Gettysburg, and was a local hero, but everyone in the family called him Boppie. I have a very distinguished photo of him in his uniform that he autographed to my grandmother with the name Boppie. He died long before I was born, so I never knew him.

-- Judy (Just plain Grandma!)

(Nana Name)

My cousin's kids call my aunt (their grandma) - NANIE (don't know exactly how it's spelled......but it's pronounced "nawne" long e).

-- The Tembrock Family

(Nana Name)

Well, my grandmother is Nanny... and there's only ONE Nanny to me :)
My mom is very unique and though Nano... like on the show Mork from Ork (you know,Mork and Mindy?)... she was thinking how Mork would say 'Nanu, Nanu".. and said she would be Nano... LOL

I know... weird.

-- Kari

My youngest daughter calls my parents her New Grandma and New Grandpa. They aren't really new to the family, but they do live far away and we only see them once or twice a year, opposed to my husband's parents who live closer and we see regularly. The first few times my parents came to visit after my second daughtor was born were so far apart that she did not remember them from visit to visit. Her other Grandparents came frequently enough that she had known them for quite awhile. When my parents arrived for a visit about the time she was 2 1/2 she thought that she had acquired a new set of Grandparents and they have been her New Grandma and Grandpa ever since.

-- Mark B.

(Nana Name)

I have a friend with 2 grandchildren, one now 14 and the other 12.  The first one could not say Nannaw - she tried but it came out "Nanknop" (nan-nopp).   The second child followed and the name has stuck.

-- Glenda O.

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

My mommy-in-law was feeding my son a banana and he started calling her nana- as well as the banana. Now he calls the banana by the “correct” name and my mommy-in-law Nana. He is almost three now and has been heard referring to her as "Nutty Nana."

Her husband is not my husband’s father and wanted to be called Grandfather Sir, but Mommy-in-law did not like that idea. Mommy-in-law jokingly said how about “G-pop”, and that is what my son has called him ever since.

-- Gerri E.

(Nana Name)

My friend's granddaughter heard her granddad call his wife "Honey" so that is what she calls her too.

-- Nancy P.

(Grandpa Name)

My cousin’s son would always call his Dad on the phone and say Hey Pop!!!!! The kids just began to calling him Haypop!!!

-- Sabra K.

(Nana Name)

A friend of mine is called “Ott” by her grandchildren. The only reason she can think of is that her daughter-in-law introduces her as “Scott’s mother” and the oldest grandchild abbreviated that.

-- Judy W.

(Nana Names)

I have a great friend in West Texas whose grandson Hunter calls her "GeeBee."  Why?  He had two sets of grandparents, so her daughter came up with this to differentiate "Grandma Butler"!  It stuck, so now Hunter has his "GeeBee & Poppa"!  We laugh they should've named her husband "Heebie" (Heebie & GeeBee).  Thanks!

-- Donna B.

(Nana Name)

My daughter calls her grandma "Goggie." She could not say Granny.

-- Tina E.

(Nana Names)

I'd laughingly told our daughter & son-in-law the one name I wouldn't accept was my given name (Donna). Of course, that is the first thing she called me! We ignored it, so the next time little Gracie needed me, it was "Nonna." She now has a sister Riley, & I am "Nonna" to both!

We have a friend who is very dramatic ~ her children & grandchildren call her "Drammaw."

Darling website!

-- Nonna B.

(Nana Name)

I don't know the whole story, but when my oldest brother was little, my mother said that he would hear her call her mother Mom and he started calling her Mom, and it stuck through seven grandchildren. I never understood why people would look funny when I talked about my Mom and then told them that it was my grandmother -- she was and always will be Mom to me!!!! Thanks for allowing me to share this.

-- Sharon

(Nana and Grandpa Names)

No special story. She (granddaughter) started talking at a young age and just couldn't say Grandma and Grandpa.  It just develpoed into Moe Moe and Poe Poe.

-- Karla L.

(Nana Name)

My name is Maga.  No story really. My daughter-in-law's mother was wanting to be called Nana, and I was wanting to come up with a unique name, so my daughter-in-law heard a little girl call her grandmother "Maga." She said, "What is she calling you?" The grandmother said she turns the Gramma around and says Maga. She thought that was cute, so she told me and we decided that would be my name.  My grandaughter says it and it is very cute, and loving, almost like mama.

-- Linda R

(Nana Names)

GaGa-pronounced (guyguy) - The oldest grandchild's attempt at Grandma and it stuck.

DoeDoe- I don't know where we got this but it's all everyone called her.

GoneGone - We would leave her house and our parents said she was gone gone. And it just stuck.

-- Priscilla M.

Well... when I was little, all my older cousins called my grandmother "Memere," which until I found this website, I didn't know that it was French. I never really understood why they called her that. Well, I couldn't pronounce "Memere" when I was younger, so I shortened it to "Mur." It's said just as it is written. Some people make fun and don't understand it, but we all do. So my grandparents are "Mur and Papa."

-- Kimberly

(Nana Names)

When our oldest daughter presented us with our first grandchild (Savannah) 8.5 years ago, I wanted to be called Nana. Since my name is Nancye it made sense to me that she would hear others call me Nancye and Nana would be a shortened easy version for her to say. As it happened, her other grandmother wanted to be called Nana also. Eight and a half years and a grandson (Augustus, Gus for short) later what we have wound up with is Nana Nancye and Nana Joanne. When we are all together at the same time, which is often they use both names to distinguish which Nana they are talking to. When we are with them “one-on-one” we are simply Nana.

Now our youngest daughter has presented us with a new granddaughter (Kyleigh) and I can’t wait to hear her say Nana. Also, now her other grandmother gets to have a new name and since this is her first grandchild it will be interesting to see what it is. I vote for Nana Tami, but it will be interesting to see what Kyleigh’s vote is.

-- Nana Nancye W.

KISSES FROM GRANMA:

When my 3 year old twin granddaughters' baby sister was born, our lives became forever bonded together.  I stayed with them for the week while mom and dad were at the hospital.  We had fun tea parties, we cooked and cleaned, we had slummber parties where we painted our toe nails and talked about our favorite boys (daddy and Grandpa) and did fun crafts from Granma's special bag.  (I have a grandma bag filled with construction paper, glitter pins, scissors, glue sticks and crayons.  All of my grandchildren love to get it out.)  I currently have 6.5 grandchildren.  After our fun week was done, I went to kiss the twins good-bye.  They were real upset that our fun time was over and I wouldn't be there to tuck them in at night.  I had just refreshed my lipstick, so when I kissed them I left lip prints on their cheeks.  I told them this kiss would last 'til bedtime and I would be there with them while they slept.  Well, now every time I leave I have to give them the kiss that lasts and they make sure that baby sister Katie now gets her kiss too.  When their daddy asks why they want the kiss, they politely inform him it is a "tradition." And it can't be washed off until morning.  They even sometimes have me hide the kiss under their bangs so they can keep it longer.

-- Cathy C. (Granma)

(Nana Names: BeBe and Beebs)

I had originally wanted to be called MeMe, but my oldest grandchild started calling me BeBe instead - we can choose whatever we want, but our grandchildren have the final say don't they?

I now have 6 wonderful grandchildren calling me BeBe. The one who started it all is now 15. The next to youngest (a boy, 4) sometimes shortens it to Beebs. I love your website - one of my friends is expecting her first grandchild and trying to find the perfect name, so I showed it to her.

-- Johnnie T

I have been a Nanna for a little over 2 years now. My oldest daughter made me a Nanna on November 21, 2002. My youngest daughter was not due until Feb. 6, 2003, but she had hers early (too early-6 weeks!) on December 26th. They are both boys and exactly 5 weeks to the day apart. Then, my oldest daughter's husband found out that he had cancer and would not be able to father anymore children. While undergoing surgery and beginning chemo, my daughter found out that she was already 12 weeks along. So, 14 months after her first one, she had a little girl. (Our miracle baby!!!!) So, as you can tell by my writings, I am one happy Nanna!

I really liked the name Granna, but my daughter gave me the name of Nanna and had it printed on a shirt. I didn't have the heart to change it. I love Nanna now because it is so easy for them to say.  Let me clear up the Granna thing though. She presented all four grandparents with a monogramed shirt wrapped up in a package as a way of telling us that they were expecting. She had the name Nanna put on my shirt and PawPaw on my husband's. I heard the name Granna after she had done that and I like it, but I would not change what she gave me for anything.

-- NannaKathy

(Nana Name: Big Moma and Grandpa Name: Dukey)

I married a man much older than I am who has children almost my age. Anyway, when his grandson was born, he didn’t want to be called Granpaw so; he chose Duke (so he could be like John Wayne). Of course, Duke was changed to Dukey very quickly. At that point, we didn’t have a name for me. I am a very short person, and at the time, very thin and my husband thought it would be funny to call me BIG Moma. I’m still short, but I’ve gained a few pounds since then and Big Moma fits in more ways than one now. It’s very funny to be out in public and have the kids call us Dukey and Big Moma. These are not names you hear all the time!

-- Kathy T.

(Nana Name: Gigi)

How did I get my NanaName?  Nothing other than when Zachary was about 9 months old, his Mom told me that he would come home and say "Gigi, Gigi, Gigi." I guess it was just easy to say! But it has stuck, and now that's my name! 

Just being a Grandmother is so much fun.  I don't know when I have ever known such joy!

-- Gigi

(Nana Names)

Before I came along, my grandma was referred to as Grandma Phil (Phyllis) by the other grandchildren. After, hearing my cousin call her other grandma Mimi Zell (Zella), I began calling my grandma Mimi Phil and then just plain Mimi. This name has stuck so well that even her grown middle aged children will refer to her as Mimi. My grandma and her special name mean so much to me, that I plan to use it in some form for my future daughter.

My great-grandma, who was called Grandma Kate, eventually had her name turn into, Grandma Cake! I love the feeling this envoked in me as a child. She was tiny, sweet, and loveable, much like a cake!

-- Meghan(Grandaughter of Mimi)

(Nana Name: Gommy)

It was a mispronunciation of grandmommy that just stuck.

-- Jody W.

(Grandpa Name: Baboo)

My 2 yr old cousin was looking for her grandfather (he had no name yet---they were waiting for her to name him) and he was in the bathroom. So she beat on the door screaming "Bah-Boo"!!! We all think she was saying "bathroom" but no, it really was HIM she was calling. He is now Baboo (pronounced Bah-Boo).  What's going to be hilarious is when they graduate from high school still calling him that!

-- April P

(Nana Name: Janna) 

I was looking for something different. I thougt Janna might be nice. Using an anagram of Nana, then as my name is Janine I thought I would put that in front.

-- Janine

(Nana Name: YaYa)

I just know that it is Greek -- my aunt's friend was Greek, and that is what her children called their grandmother. We already had a Nana in our family, so when I had children that was their name for my mother. Now that I have grandchildren and my mother has passed on, my daughters wanted the girls to call ME YaYa.

-- Debi M

(Nana Name: Nani)

Nani came about when I saw this name of this gal on a TV show. I had a Nana and felt Nani was close to that. I have since learned of other ladies who also go by Nani . We go to Hawaii often and have now found that nani means "beauty". Of course, think that is a nice omen. My husband wants to go by TuTu Kane only if Eva can say this later. That is hawaiian for grandpa.

-- Chris

My cousin who is my mothers age (the 1st grandchild) started calling her (my grandmother) Bama.  Maybe she tried to say Grandma & it came out Bama. It just stuck and we all called her that.

-- Katina

My grandparents names were Mama Mac and Daddy Mac because their last name began with Mc and my grandmother wasn't ready to be a "grand" mother at the time.

My father was called "Popsi" by my daughter. We were trying to get her to call him Papa and it came out Popsi.

He later remarried after my mother's death and his new granddaughter (with my stepmother) called him "Char Char." His name was Charles.

My nephew calls my mom "GingGong" and we think that my daughter will call her that too.  I can't tell you where it came from. Who knows. It's funny though. She hated it at first but she answers to it.  Thanks

-- Jennifer M

My Grandma on my dad's side is Ice Cream Grandma. She has so many grandchildren, and when we were toddlers, she didn't have enough high chairs, so she would tie the older children into their chairs with scarves to feed us our ice cream (probably an unnecessary precaution, but you know grandmas). She loved giving us ice cream, and after we gave her the name, she could never say no!!  Thank you for the opportunity to share!

-- Kelsie M.

My son was enchanted by my Mother's Coo Coo clock when he was a baby so it wasn't any surprise when he started to call my Mom Coo Coo. It has stuck all these years, my son is now 35 and even my friends call her Coo Coo. My mom just loves her name and my daughter came up with a license plate frame for her. It reads "I'm not nuts" (top) "I'm just Coo Coo."  We have had alot of fun with that.

-- Sharon T.

My son calls his grandmother "Whine Whine" because of a song she sings.  The song is silly, I had never heard it.  Her mom sang it to her & she sang it to my husband, and now to my children.  It is:

Whine Whine Sugar Baby
Whine Whine Sugar Baby
Pull, Pull
Turn yourself around

She does hand motions with it--the kids love it!

--Jennifer M.

How I Got My Nana Name Story:  Grandma "Bart" -- Bart was my son's nickname in school cuz he skateboarded like Bart Simpson, so my 2-1/2 year old granddaughter calls me Grandma Bart.

--Diane S.

When I was a baby, I always called my grandma "Mugga."   My mom told me, "No, it's Grandma!" and I urged, "No, it's Mugga."  Kinda funny!!  I got the other grandkids calling her that too!! Lol!

--Lindsay D.

The story behind my e-mail address, "grannynanny.....", is:  I am a Granny and now I am going to be a Nanny to the twins when they arrive -- a wonderful time in my life!

--June H.

My mother is Am-ma and my father is Pepaw.  We were saying Grandma and Grandpa and my son, Charlie, said Am-ma and Pepaw and they stuck.  As for my daughter who is 10 months younger, we tried the grandma and grandpa again and she calls them Pawpaw and Gam-ma.

-- Jenna S. and my children Charlie and Alison

My daughter has many grandmothers (due to extended families).  She has a Ganny, Gram, and Bobbeh.

My step-mother chose "Ganny" because she read somewhere that was what the Bush grandchildren call Barbara Bush (although I believe they say it with a long "a" sound, we use the short "a"). 

"Bobbeh" is from the Jewish (Yiddish) name for grandmother although I believe we do not spell it the same way.

-- Michelle P.

My mother, refusing to be called anything related to grandmother is called Tiger by all her grandchildren.  As she has gotten older she has thought about changing it to something more traditional, but nothing else stuck.

The name really fits her personality! Apparently, one of her girlfriends mothers was called Tiger and that is where it originally came from. She decided on it the first time she received an "I Love Grandma" bib. :)

--Cortney M.

My mother name is Mary, so we call her Granmary.

-- Kendall K.

When my youngest daughter was 6, we moved into a new neighborhood. Carrie immediately made a new little friend who lived with her grandparents. Her friend called her Grandmother "Gaggie." The first time I heard the name I told my daughter "that's a terrible name." Later, I was often heard making the comment "my grandkids can call me anything they want, except Gaggie!!"  

Well, my oldest daughter, Crystal, was pregnant with my first grandson when Carrie, at the age of 18, was killed in a car accident. When Colby was born 7 months later, I immediately began referring to myself as "Granny." As Colby began to talk, it was very evident that he was going to call my "Gaggie." There was no mistaking what he was saying. The only explanation we can come up with is that Carrie must have been whispering in his ear all along, "Call her Gaggie!!" Now I have 3 little ones calling me "Gaggie" and I think it is the sweetest and most wonderful name in the world.

--Judy

(NanaNames) Love and Meme - The first name Love is a name chosen because grandchildren are a part of my life, just like my children when they were small.   Everyday we used this word. Meme is what my nephews and nieces chose for their grandmother.

--Clara Y.

Here's a better nana name....CRA CRA. Baby was too young to say Grand-ma and called her Cra Cra. She is now 5 years old and still calls her that. isn't that awful!! haha!!

--April P

Hunny is what my son calls my mom -- she just felt too young to be called grandma and wanted a cool name. She's a young grandma...

--April P.

MAMA D is my grandma's NanaName. Her name was Wylodean. So since I was little I called her Mama D because she went by Dean.

--Kelly H.

The first grand kid could not say Granny, so she has been called Ganky for 36 years.

--Terry W.

When my son-in-law's mother wanted to be 'Grandma' exclusively, my daughter and son-in-law discussed other names for me. Since I come for Italian lineage, I thought Nonna would be a good one, but he thought it was too negative. The Greek's use Yia Yia (pronounced Yaya),