Grandma Names: 65 Traditional, Cute & Modern Ideas for Every Personality

The moment a new baby arrives, someone always turns to grandma and asks: what does the baby call you? Even the most decisive woman can find herself completely stumped.

Today’s grandmothers are refusing to default to a name that doesn’t feel like them. The choices have never been richer: Nana, Gigi, Glamma, Abuela, Meemaw and beyond.

We’ve curated 65 grandma names across six categories to help you find the one that fits your personality, your culture, or simply the way your grandchild says it.

12 Traditional Names for Grandma

1. Grandma. The most recognized grandmother name in North America, carrying a sense of stability and family tradition that no other name quite replicates.

2. Grandmother. More formal than Grandma, this version works well for introductions and families with a strong sense of tradition.

3. Nana. The most popular grandmother name in the United States, beloved for how naturally it rolls off a toddler’s tongue.

4. Nan. The British and Irish short form of Nana, popular in the U.K. and Ireland for its no-nonsense, timeless charm.

5. Grammy. A warm, playful alternative to Grandma with a cookie-baking, hugs-at-the-door energy that never feels old-fashioned.

6. Granny. A cozy, beloved classic that has been used for centuries across English-speaking countries and is still said with real affection.

7. Gran. A British-inspired short form of Grandma, widely used in the U.K., Ireland, and Australia. It sounds like it was always what you called her.

8. Gram. Short, casual, and unpretentious. Gram suits the grandmother who would rather be in the garden than fussing over titles.

9. Grandmom. A regional favorite in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland with the same warmth as Grandma and a slight identity all its own.

10. Nanny. A gentle, nurturing classic used for centuries in the U.K. and New England. Many families use it to distinguish between two grandmothers.

11. Gamma. A soft variation of Grandma that often develops naturally from a toddler’s early attempts at pronunciation and ends up sticking.

12. Mam. Used in Wales, Ireland, and parts of Scotland. In many families, the grandmother naturally becomes Mam once the grandchildren arrive..

12 Cool and Modern Names for Grandma

13. Gigi. Currently one of the trendiest grandmother names in America, easy for toddlers to say and sophisticated enough for everyone else.

14. Mimi. Elegant, French-inspired, and modern. Mimi’s chic sound suits grandmothers who want something fresh without being over the top.

15. Glamma. A blend of glamorous and grandma, made famous in part by Kris Jenner. Bold, fun, and genuinely popular.

16. Lola. The Filipino word for grandmother that has crossed cultural lines to become a chic, playful choice for grandmothers of all backgrounds.

17. Bebe. French-inspired and naturally sweet, Bebe is easy for young children to say and grows beautifully with the relationship.

18. Coco. Spirited, stylish, and unforgettable. Coco is playful without being silly and simple enough for even the youngest grandchild to master.

19. Queenie. For the grandmother who knows her worth. Regal without taking itself too seriously, perfect for a matriarch who runs the family with warmth.

20. Bibi. A grandmother name in Swahili-speaking East African cultures and parts of the Middle East, gaining broader appeal in multicultural American families.

21. Pippa. A modern, whimsical name with British charm, gaining traction among grandmothers who want something distinct and personality-forward.

22. Sunny. Perfect for the grandmother who lights up every room. Cheerful, easy to say, and impossible not to smile at.

23. Gogo. Made famous by journalist Katie Couric when she became a grandmother. Joyful and bouncy, children love it instantly.

24. Momo. Simple, rhythmic, and easy to say. Modern enough to feel fresh, easy enough that it rarely gets mispronounced.

Cute Grandma Nicknames

Some grandmother names don’t come from tradition or trends. They come from pure love. These cute nicknames often start as a toddler’s invention and end up lasting a lifetime.

25. Noni. An affectionate name with Italian roots, softer than Nonna, popular in multicultural families who want something sweet but distinct.

26. Lovey. Perhaps the most affectionate grandmother name on any list. It suits the grandmother who is the emotional center of every family gathering.

27. Bunny. Soft, sweet, and a little whimsical. Bunny often starts as a family pet name and naturally grows into the grandma name.

28. Honey. Warm and universally loved, used across the South as both a term of endearment and a genuine grandmother name. It feels like a hug.

29. Cookie. For the grandmother famous for her baking, or simply the one who is just as sweet. Children love saying it.

30. Dottie. A charming vintage nickname having a quiet modern renaissance. Easy for toddlers to pronounce thanks to those early-developing D and T sounds.

31. Lulu. Bubbly, fun, and full of life. Impossibly easy for children to say and joyful at every stage of the grandchild’s life.

32. Tootsie. A playful vintage nickname for the grandmother who doesn’t take herself too seriously. Silly in the best possible way.

33. Boo. Short, sweet, and unpretentious. Boo often starts as a toddler’s mispronunciation of something longer and ends up permanent.

34. Marmee. An old-fashioned term made famous by Little Women, with a literary charm and warm motherly feel that never goes out of style.

Cultural & International Grandma Names

One of the richest ways to choose a grandmother name is to look to your family’s heritage. These names carry generations of meaning and give grandchildren a direct connection to where they come from.

15 Grandma Names From Around the World

35. Nonna. The Italian word for grandmother, now one of the most beloved grandmother names in America. It carries warmth, big family dinners, and unconditional love.

36. Abuela. The Spanish word for grandmother, widely used across the U.S. and Latin America. Many families pair it with a first name: Abuela Rosa, Abuela Carmen.

37. Oma. The German and Dutch word for grandmother, enormously popular far beyond German-speaking households for its short, warm, easy-to-say sound.

38. Baba. Used across Eastern Europe, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East. In Slavic families, Baba or Babushka evokes the beloved family matriarch.

39. Yiayia. The Greek word for grandmother, also spelled YaYa. Joyful and rhythmic, popular in Greek-American communities and enthusiastically adopted beyond.

40. Halmeoni. The Korean word for grandmother, used as a term of deep respect and love. It carries the weight of family honor and has a lyrical quality.

41. Obaachan. The Japanese word for grandmother, conveying equal parts respect and affection. It reflects the central role grandmothers hold in Japanese family culture.

42. Avo. The Portuguese word for grandmother, pronounced ah-VOH. Melodic and warm, used in Portuguese and Brazilian families.

43. Sitti. The Arabic word for grandmother, soft and gentle in sound and deeply meaningful in cultures where grandmothers hold profound respect.

44. Bubbe. The Yiddish word for grandmother, beloved in Jewish families worldwide. It has a cozy warmth that instantly conjures comfort, food, and unconditional love.

45. Nai Nai. The Mandarin Chinese word for paternal grandmother. The maternal grandmother is Wai Po. Both carry deep cultural significance in Chinese and Chinese-American families.

46. Mormor. The Scandinavian name for maternal grandmother, used in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Farmor is the paternal grandmother. Both are gaining appreciation in Scandinavian-American families.

47. Lola. The Filipino word for grandmother, holding an especially honored position as the family’s keeper of wisdom and stories. Its warmth has earned fans well beyond Filipino families.

48. Babcia. The Polish word for grandmother, pronounced BAB-cha. Often shortened to Busia or Busha in American families of Polish descent.

49. Teta. Used in Arabic and in parts of South America, particularly Colombia and Venezuela. Soft, short, and easy for young children to say.

Southern Grandma Names

The American South has its own deeply rooted tradition of grandmother names. They are born from the way toddlers naturally say words, passed down through generations, and tied to a particular kind of Southern warmth.

8 Classic Southern Names for Grandma

50. Mamaw. The quintessential Southern grandmother name, deeply embedded in Appalachian and Southern culture and used with immense affection across multiple generations.

51. Meemaw. A softer variation of Mamaw, beloved in Texas, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast states. Gained broader recognition thanks to The Big Bang Theory character MeeMaw.

52. Mema. Believed to originate from toddler mispronunciations of Grandma. Simple, sweet, and especially popular in Texas and the Carolinas.

53. Big Mama. A term of deep respect used across Southern families and particularly in Southern African-American culture. It is about stature and love, not size.

54. Nanie. Pronounced NAY-nee, this distinctly Southern variation is particularly common in Texas. The familiar warmth of Nana with a regional identity all its own.

55. Gammaw. An earthy Southern variation of Grandma that develops organically in families. It suits the down-home, practical grandmother who is the quiet backbone of everything.

56. Grammie. A softer spelling of Grammy, popular across the South and in New England alike. The ie ending gives it extra warmth and it sounds like it was first whispered by a toddler.

57. MiMaw. A beautifully Southern blend of Mimi and Mamaw with a devoted following across the Deep South and the rhythmic quality Southern grandmother names are known for.

Funny & Unique Grandma Names

Some grandmothers don’t fit neatly into any category. These names are for the bold, the humorous, and the unforgettable. They are conversation starters and memory makers.

8 Funny, Bold & One-of-a-Kind Names for Grandma

58. G-Ma. Casual, cool, and just a little irreverent. Modern without being try-hard and memorable in all the right ways.

59. Glammy. A softer cousin of Glamma, for the grandmother who loves to dress up but doesn’t take herself too seriously.

60. Zaza. Bold, rhythmic, and completely distinctive. Popular among grandmothers who want a name as vibrant as their personality.

61. Kitty. Independent and entirely her own person. A charming vintage nickname that feels both retro and fresh.

62. Birdie. Whimsical and full of life, with a vintage charm and the spirit of the most interesting person in any room.

63. Duchess. A tongue-in-cheek nod to regal status, for the grandmother who runs the family accordingly. It makes everyone smile.

64. Woo-Woo. Often born from a toddler’s accidental invention. Ridiculous in the best possible way, and the grandmothers who carry it tend to be the most beloved.

65. Giggles. For the grandmother whose laugh is the first thing you picture when you think of her. Pure joy in a single word.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grandma Names

Final Thoughts

The perfect grandma name is the one that feels unmistakably like you. The one your grandchildren will say and immediately picture someone specific, someone irreplaceable.

Whether you go with the timeless comfort of Nana, the Southern warmth of Mamaw, the global elegance of Nonna, or the bold joy of Glamma, the name you choose becomes part of your family’s story.

Take your time. Say a few names out loud. See which one makes you smile. And remember: even if you choose carefully, a toddler might rename you entirely. And it will probably be perfect.