109 Grandma Names That’ll Stick for Life

Naming your baby is hard enough — but then comes another big one: what’s your baby gonna call your mom?

Some families stick with the classics like Grandma or Nana. Others go rogue with cool, cultural, or downright unexpected picks like Gigi, Oma, or Tootsie. And honestly? There’s no “right” answer — except the one that feels right for your family.

Maybe your mom is already campaigning for her dream grandma name. Maybe she’s “cool with whatever” (translation: she will absolutely have an opinion once the baby starts talking). Or maybe you’re just here for the 150+ ideas so you can find something that makes everyone smile.

Let’s dive in.

In this article: 📝

What do most kids call their grandma?

The most common grandma names are the ones you probably grew up hearing. These are simple, sweet, and easy for little mouths to say. That’s why they’ve stood the test of time.

1. Grandma
2. Granny
3. Nana
4. Nanny
5. Gran or Gran-Gran
6. Gram or Grams
7. Mimi
8. Gammie
9. Mamaw (big in the Southern US)
10. Nonna (Italian roots, but used everywhere)

👉 Related reading: When is Grandparents’ Day?

What’s a cute name for grandma?

If your mom’s vibe is more “cozy cookies and bedtime stories” than “formal family portraits,” try these adorable options:

11. Lolly (yes, like the candy 🍭)
12. Gigi or GG
13. Sweetie
14. Gammy
15. Honey
16. Meemaw
17. Bubbles
18. Granna-Bear
19. Lala
20. Grammaloo
21. Lovey
22. Grammy
23. Mimsy or Mimzy
24. Momo
25. Cookie
26. Grampsie (usually a granddad name, but it can work for grandmas, too)
27. Juju
28. Nanners
29. Fifi
30. Momsie
31. Peaches
32. Poppy (works for grandpas too)
33. Lulu
34. Birdie
35. Mama [first name or last name], like Mama Jo or Mama Preston

What are grandma names from around the world?

Here’s where it gets fun — and educational. Some of these are common, others are more regional or dialect-specific, but all are legit cultural ways to say “grandma.”

36. Abuela (Spain, Mexico)
37. Aljada (Arabic)
38. Amma (Iceland)
39. Amona (Basque)
40. Avia (Catalan, Latin)
41. Avó (Portugal)
42. Avozinha (Portugal, pronounced “avo-zeen-ya”)
43. Baba (Ukraine, Bulgaria)
44. Babulia (Belarusia)
45. Babcia (Polish, pronounced “bab-cha”)
46. Babička (Czechoslovakia, pronounced “bab-ish-ka”)
47. Babusya (Ukrainian)
48. Baka (Croatia)
49. Bako (Bosnia)
50. Babushka (Russian)
51. Bà (Vietnam)
52. Bedstemor or Bestemor (Denmark, Norway)
53. Bibi (Swahili)
54. Bubbe (Yiddish, pronounced “buh-bee”)
55. Bunica (Romania)
56. Daadee (Hindi)
57. Elisi (Cherokee)
58. Fam-gu (Welsh, meaning “father’s mother)
59. Farmor (Sweden, Denmark, meaning “father’s mother”)
60. Giagia (Greek, pronounced with soft “g”s)
61. Gjyshja (Albania, pronounced “zhuh-zhiyah”)
62. Gogo (South Africa)
63. Gran (Australia)
64. Grand-mère (France)
65. Grand-Maman (French)
66. Grandma (Australia)
67. Granmè (Haiti)
68. Kuia (Māori)
69. Lola (The Philippines)
70. Maimeó (Ireland)
71. Mama (Hungary)
72. Mamere (Cajun)
73. Mam-gu (Welsh, meaning “mother’s mother)
74. Mamie (France)
75. Mamó (Ireland)
76. Mawmaw (Cajun)
77. Memere (Cajun)
78. Móraí (Ireland)
79. Mormor (Sweden, Denmark, meaning “mother’s mother”)
80. Mummo (Finland)
81. Nagymama (Hungary)
82. Nagyi (Hungary)
83. Nain (Welsh)
84. Nainai (China)
85. Nan or Nanna (Australia)
86. Nenek (Indonesia, pronounced with a soft “k”)
87. Nonna (Italy)
88. Nonni (Italy)
89. Nonnina (Italy)
90. Oma (The Netherlands, Germany)
91. Omi (Germany)
92. Ouma (Afrikaans)
93. Sivata (Hebrew)
94. Tinamatua (Samoan)
95. Unči (Sioux, pronounced “oon-chee”)
96. Vanaema (Estonia)
97. Vecmāmiņa (Latvia, pronounced “vetz-mah-mina”)

What’s a funny name for grandma?

Some families are pure comedy — and the grandparents’ names are proof:

98. Glam-ma (for the very stylish)
99. Grambo
100. Queenie
101. Cha-cha
102. Gram Cracker
103. Gaga
104. G-Money
105. Big Mama
106. Tootsie
107. Bam-Bam
108. Lady G
109. Granzilla

❤️ Ready to tell them? Pregnancy Announcement Ideas for Grandparents

Who picks grandparents’ names?

It’s a mix. Some grandparents choose their own (your mom may have already picked hers before you were born). Sometimes the parents pick. But often, the baby decides — mispronouncing a name in a way that’s so cute, it sticks for decades.

Pro tip: Stay flexible. Even the most carefully chosen grandma name can be replaced by a toddler’s adorable gibberish.

Choosing a grandma name is a little like picking a tattoo — it’s personal, it’s probably going to be around forever, and ideally, it makes you smile every time you hear it. Whether you go classic, cultural, cute, or completely made-up, the best grandma name is the one that feels right for your family.

And remember: toddlers are the wildcards. You could spend months agreeing on “Nana,” only for your kid to call her “Gaga” once — and boom, that’s her name until the end of time.

Want some more ideas for grandma names? Why not ask the other moms of Peanut? We think you’ll fit right in. 🫶