Terms of endearment: What to call the grandparents?

By Published On: September 10th, 2012

Finding a title for the grandparents can seem nearly as […]

Finding a title for the grandparents can seem nearly as complicated as choosing a name for baby. Thanks to Lauren Charpio’s You can call me Hoppa!, though, discovering the perfect designation has never been more fun.
Be traditional.
“When I was a child, I called my grandmother Nanny. She was a telephone operator on Ellis Island and raised my mother as a single parent. She was beautiful and brave and smart … When my son had his first child, I was so thrilled to be able to take the name Nanny in her honor.” —Betsy R., Raleigh, N.C.
Names to consider: Grampy, Grandad, Granddaddy, Grandpa, Grandfather, Grandpapa, Grandpaw, Pa, Papa. Pappy; Grandma, Grammy, Grandmaw, Grandmama, Grandmom, Grandmommy, Grandmother, Granny, Nana, Nannie
Think cultural.
“My mom was a French teacher. She thinks it is the most beautiful language, spoke it fluently, and tried to get us to do the same. When my sister had her baby, my mom was excited to adopt the French grandparent name MemEre.”
—Christine R., San Francisco, CA
Names to consider: Cajun: PawPaw, MawMaw; Cherokee: Edudi, Elisi; German: Opa, Oma; Hawaiian: Tutu-wahini,
Tutu-kane; Irish: Daide