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The Ultimate List of Grandma Names

Not every family uses the same old names for grandma. This list is packed with fun, sweet, and different names for grandma that reflect personality and style.

Updated May 23, 2025

by Nina Spears

The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
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Choosing what to call a grandmother is more personal—and fun—than ever before. While “Grandma” and “Nana” are still beloved, many families are now getting creative and choosing meaningful, modern, or even playful alternatives. Whether you’re looking for classic picks, trendy twists, or international inspiration, this ultimate list of over 100 grandma names has something for everyone. If your mom or mother-in-law is still deciding what she wants to be called, these heartfelt and stylish names for grandma might spark the perfect idea.

29 Classic & Traditional Grandma Names in the U.S.

These beloved names for grandma have been passed down through generations. Whether you grew up with a Nana, Meemaw, or Grandmother, these timeless choices still hold a special place in many families today. If you’re leaning toward a warm, familiar name that honors tradition, this list is full of comforting favorites.

1. Abba

2. Amma

3. GamGam

4. Gammy or Gammie

5. Gigi

6. Gram or Grams

7. Gramma

8. Grammy or Grammie

9. Gran or Gran-Gran

10. Grandma or Grandmaw

11. Grandmama

12. Grandmom or Grand mom

13. Grandmother

14. Grannie or Granny

15. Ma or Maw

16. Mammy (and can go with Pappy)

17. Marmee or Marmi or Marmie

18. MawMaw or Mawmaw – popular in south Louisiana and are Cajun in origin

19. Meemaw or Meema (usually goes with Peepaw or Papaw)

20. Mema, MeMa, or Mima

21. Memaw, MeeMaw or Mimaw

22. Meme

23. Memere

24. Mimi

25. Nana

26. Nanny (and can go with Poppy)

27. Nene (and can go with Papi)

28. Nonna

29. Yaya

64 Trendy & Cool Grandma Names

If you’re looking for something bold, fun, and outside the box, these different names for grandma offer a fresh take on a beloved role. From Glamma to Gigi and everything in between, these playful picks are perfect for grandmothers with big personalities and modern style.

1. Babe

2. Bamba or Bama

3. BeBe

4. Bella or Belle

5. Big Grandma

6. Big Mom or Big Momma

7. Birdy or Birdie

8. Bomma – stems from French and Dutch, meaning “good mom.”

9. Bunny

10. CeeCee or Cici

11. Chacha

12. Coco

13. Cookie

14. Darling

15. Foxy

16. G

17. GG or GiGi

18. G-bomb

19. G-Ma or G-Mom (also spelled Gma, Geema or Geemom)

20. Gabby or Gabbi

21. Gadgy or Gadgi

22. Gaga

23. Gaggy

24. Gamma or Gams

25. Gammy

26. Gimmy (Like Kimmy, but with a G.)

27. Glamma or Glammy

28. GoGo or Gogi

29. Goma

30. Grammers (goes with Grampers)

31. Grancy or Grancie

32. Grand (and their name) – For example, Grand Martha and Grand Buddy

33. Grandma + First letter of the name

34. Honey (and can go with “Bear” for a grandpa name!)

35. Kitty

36. LaLa

37. Lollie or Lolly (and goes with Pop – so cute, right? Lolly Pop!)

38. Lovey

39. Madam

40. Mambo

41. Maw Maw

42. MayMay

43. Mémé (and can go with Pépé)

44. Mia

45. Mims or Mimsy

46. Minny or Minnie

47. Momo

48. Mom-Mom

49. Momoo

50. Mom mom

51. Momsie

52. Nonnie

53. Naunie

54. Nani (instead of Nanny)

55. Neena or Nina

56. Pippy

57. Pippa

58. Queenie

59. Sassy

60. Sugar or Suga’

61. Sweetie

62. Teenie or Teeny

63. Tootsie

64. Two-Mama (like a second mama)

International Names for Grandma

Grandmothers around the world go by many beautiful and meaningful names. These international grandma names reflect cultural traditions, languages, and family customs that have been passed down through generations. Whether you’re looking for something with heritage or hoping to honor your roots, this global list may offer the perfect fit.

Below, you’ll find other names for grandma from dozens of countries and cultures, listed alphabetically by region or language.

These names are shared with admiration and cultural respect. Always consider family traditions and cultural context when choosing a name from a background that’s not your own.

Aborigine

  • Australian Formal – Garrimaay
  • Australian Paternal – Mamaay
  • Australian Maternal – Momu
  • Polynesian Maori dialect – Tipuna Wahine

African

  • Berber dialect – Henna
  • Botswana – Nkuku
  • Shona dialect – Ambuya
  • Swahili – Bibi, Nayanya
  • Venda dialect – Makhulu
  • Xhosa dialect – Umakhulu
  • Zulu dialect – Ugogo

Afrikaans

  • Ouma

Albanian

  • Gjyshe

American Indian

  • Cherokee – E-Ni-Si
  • Cheyenne – Neske’e
  • Eskimo, Inupiaq dialect – Aanaga
  • Navajo (maternal) – Ma’saani
  • Navajo (paternal) – Nali’
  • Ojibway – Nookmis, Nookomis

Arabic

  • Formal – Jaddah, Jiddah
  • Informal – Teta

Armenian

  • Tatik

Basque

  • Amona

Belarusian

  • Babka

Breton

  • Mamm-gozh

Cajun

  • MawMaw

Catalan

  • Àvia, Iaia

Chinese

  • NaiNai
  • Cantonese Paternal – Ngin
  • Cantonese Maternal – PoPo
  • Mandarin Paternal – Zumu
  • Mandarin Maternal – Wài pó

Croatian

  • Baka

Danish

  • Formal – Bedstemoder
  • Paternal – Farmor
  • Maternal – MorMor

Dutch

  • Grootmoeder
  • Grootmama

Esperanto

  • Avin

Estonian

  • Va naema

Farsi

  • Madar Bozorg

Filipino, Cebuano

  • Formal – Apohang babae
  • Informal – Lola

Finnish

  • Isoaiti
  • Mummo

Flemish

  • Bomma

French

The most common French name for grandma is Grand-mère, but many families use sweeter or more informal versions like Mémé or Grandmaman.

  • Formal – Grand-mère
  • Informal – Gra-mere, Mémé
  • Semiformal – Grandmaman
  • French Canadian – Mémé

Galician

  • Avoa

Georgian

  • Bebia

German

Oma is the most popular German name for grandma, though the formal version is Grossmutter.

  • Formal – Grossmutter
  • Informal – Oma

Greek

The most recognized Greek name for grandma is Yaya (also spelled Giagiá), cherished in both traditional and modern Greek families.

  • Yaya
  • Giagiá

Guarani, South America

  • Jaryi

Hawaiian

  • Formal – Kapuna Wahine
  • Informal – Puna, TuTu, KuKu

Hebrew

In many Jewish families, the most common Jewish grandma names are Savta (Hebrew) and Bubbe or Bubby (Yiddish).

  • Savta
  • Safta

Hungarian

  • Formal – Nagyanya
  • Informal – Yanya, Anya

Icelandic

  • Amma
  • Yamma

Indian

  • Bengali Paternal – Thakur-ma
  • Bengali Maternal – Dida, Didima
  • Hindi – Daadima
  • Southwestern – Ajii
  • Urdu Paternal – Daadi
  • Urdu Maternal – Nanni

Indonesian

  • Nenek

Irish/ Gaelic

These Irish grandma names come from Gaelic roots and are still used in many Irish-American families today.

  • Formal – Seanmhair
  • Informal – Maimeo or Morai, Mavoureen, Mhamó

Italian

Nonna is the traditional Italian name for grandma, and it has been used lovingly across generations.

  • Nonna

Japanese

  • Formal – Obaasan, Oba-Chan, Sobo (one’s own grandmother)
  • Informal – Obaba

Korean

  • Halmoni, Halmeoni

Latvian

  • Vecmate

Lebanese

  • Sitti

Lithuanian

  • Senelė, Mociute

Malagasy

  • Nenibe

Maltese

  • Nanna

Maori

  • Kuia
  • Te Kuia

Norwegian

  • Bestemor, Godmor
  • Paternal – Farmor
  • Maternal – MorMor

Polish

The standard Polish name for grandma is Babcia, though variations like Busia or Babushka are also commonly heard.

  • Formal – Babka, Babcia
  • Informal – Jaja, Zsa-Zsa, Bush, Busha, Busia or Gigi

Portuguese

  • Avó
  • VoVo

Romanian

  • Bunica

Russian

  • Babushka

Sanskrit

  • Paternal – Pitaamahii
  • Maternal – Maataamahii

Serbian

  • Baba
  • Mica

Slovakian

  • Babicka

Slovenian

  • Stara Mama

Somali

  • Ayeeyo

Spanish

The classic Spanish name for grandma is Abuela, while Abuelita is a more affectionate, informal version.

  • Formal – Abuela
  • Informal Diminutive – Abuelita, Uelita, Tita, Abby, Abbi, Lita

Swahili

  • Bibi

Swedish

In Sweden, the most familiar Swedish name for grandma is Mormor (maternal) or Farmor (paternal).

  • Paternal – FarMor
  • Maternal – MorMor

Swiss

  • Grossmami

Syrian

  • Teta, Jadda

Tamil

  • Pathi

Thai

  • Paternal – Ya
  • Maternal – Yai

Turkish

  • Buyuk Anne
  • Anneanne
  • Babanne

Turkmen

  • Ene

Ukrainian

  • Formal – Babusia
  • Informal – Baba

Uzbek

  • Bibi

Vietnamese

  • Formal – Danh tá
  • Informal – Ba, Bé già

Welsh

  • Southern – Mamgu
  • Northern – Naini, Nain

Yiddish

  • Bubby
  • Bubbe

Whether you prefer something timeless, trendy, or completely unexpected, choosing the right grandma name is a meaningful part of becoming a grandparent. From classic picks to playful alternatives, we hope this list gave you some fun ideas. Do you have any different names for grandma in your family that we should add? We’d love to hear them!

Still picking a name for Grandpa? Here’s our full list of Grandpa names your family will love

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