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Looking to find the perfect grandma nickname? Check out this list of 99 cool alternative grandma nicknames for the future grandmother in your life.
Much like how baby names have gotten more creative with each generation, grandmas are also on the hunt for unique and cool nicknames. Maybe Grandma feels too old, or perhaps your grandchild needs a nickname that’s easier to say.
Or, if you’re lucky enough to have multiple generations, alternative grandmother names are also helpful in distinguishing between grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
Luckily there are so many grandma name alternatives. This list has something for every type of grandma, including: traditional grandmother nicknames, modern and cool nicknames, unique grandma alternatives, and grandma names from around the world.
Though be warned, you may find the perfect grandma nickname but at the end of the day, a toddler usually gets the final say. Who knows what different grandma names the grandkids will come up with once they can talk!
Traditional Grandmother Nicknames
First up we have more traditional alternative names for grandma. These different grandma names are ones you’ve probably heard or even used in the past. I called my own grandmother “Grams.”
Of the names on this list, G would make an effortlessly cool grandma nickname and Grandmimi is particularly sweet.
- Gram/Grams
- Gran
- Grammy
- Nanny
- Nana
- Noni
- Memaw
- Granny
- G-ma
- Grand-mama
- Mawmaw
- Gaga
- Maw (a grandma nickname with Golden Girl vibes)
- Nan
- Grand-mimi
- Mom-mom (a grandmother nickname in the mid-Atlantic region like Pennsylvania)
- Gran-gran
- Grandmommy
- Gan / Gan-Gan
- Gamma
- Grandmom
- Gaga
- Mumsy
- Grand-lady
- G
Modern & Cool Grandma Nicknames
Like the famous Mean Girls’ quote goes, you’re not like a regular grandma, you’re a cool grandma, and need a cool grandmother name to match. Below you’ll find modern and cool grandma nicknames ideas.
Related Posts: 40 Cool Girl Names with Boyish Nicknames
Maybe the future grandma in your life is a Glamma like Goldie Hawn or a Honey like Sharon Stone. Pixie and Bella are particularly modern options too.
- Mimi
- Zanni (the grandma nickname of Suzanne Summers)
- Glamma (a name popularized by the famous Goldie Hawn)
- Gigi
- Nini (the word for grandmother in Sudanese)
- Anya
- Yaya
- Honey (the grandma nickname of Sharon Stone)
- Nonna
- Mae-mae
- Bomma (Flemish name for grandma)
- Gogo
- Ommy
- Yaya
- Teta (Arabic nickname for grandmother)
- Amma
- Deedee
- Grandy
- Lela (a nickname for the abuela)
- Mamo
- Ona
- Mimsy
- Marmee (the name of the grandmother character in Little Women)
- Pixie
- Bella
Unique Grandma Name Alternatives
Next up we have unique grandma name alternatives. These nicknames don’t immediately shout grandma but would be sweet, special names to share with a grandkid.
Having a grandmother “Lolly” and a grandfather “Pop” would be almost too adorable. I’m also partial to Boo and Trix, which I’ve loved since I first heard it on Gilmore Girls.
A name like Lala or Ya would be easy for a baby to say, which is key if you want to be strategic and have your name to be one of the first words your grandkid says.
- Bunny (with the cute nickname Bun-bun)
- Babs
- Minnie
- Lovey (the grandma alternative used by Kris Jenner)
- Birdie
- Tutu (Hawaiian nickname for grandmothers)
- Bibity
- Lala
- Bubba
- Lola (Filipino name for grandmother)
- Bebe
- Avia (Latin for grandma)
- Pippy
- Darling
- Ya (Thai nickname for grandma)
- Sweetie/Sweets
- Cookie
- Trix (the nickname of Rory’s grandmother in Gilmore Girls)
- Dumpling
- Boo
- Pumpkin
- Banana (a cute play off the ever-popular Nana)
- Coco
- Lolly (pair this one with Pop for grandpa!)
Grandma Nicknames From Around the World
Finally, below are different grandma names used around the world. Each includes the language where the grandmother name originated.
I studied Swahili in Tanzania so I have a personal soft spot for Bibi, and also think it would be easy for a toddler to say. Mummo and Pog are funky grandma nickname options too.
- Bubbe (Yiddish)
- Savta (Hebrew)
- Nene (Turkish)
- Mummo (Finnish)
- Yiayia (Greek)
- Oma (German)
- Bibi (Swahili, this grandma name also means ‘lady’)
- Nyanya (Swahili)
- Ommu (Icelandic)
- Avino (Esperanto)
- Avoa (Gallego, a language of northwest Spain)
- Abuela (Spanish)
- Bubushka (Russian)
- Ouma (Afrikaans)
- Jadda (Arabic)
- Baba (Macedonian, though also a common father & grandfather in other languages)
- Halmoni (Korean)
- Beppe (Western Frisian, a language of the Netherlands)
- Ugogo (Zulu)
- Pog (Hmong)
- Grandmere (French)
- Sobo (Japanese)
- Amona (Basque)
- Lao lao (Chinese)
- Nenek (Indonesian)
