<p>My parents are now grandparents and my niece calls them Grandpa and Grandma, which is weird for us because we mainly speak Spanish at home. My parents didn’t care though. They love it. </p>
<p>I’m Mexican American and we called our grandparents Mama (her first name) and Papa (his first name). I have no idea why or how that started but everyone calls them that. </p>
<p>I don’t really like being called Tia because it makes me feel old! My niece calls me Nina, which is short/nickname for Madrina, Godmother in Spanish since I’m her Godmother. It started as a joke but it has now stuck. </p>
<p>Meemaw and Granny always make me laugh. lol. I picture Meemaw as an older Southern lady.</p>
<p>I think Mimi is fine. There’s nothing wrong with Grandma but there’s also absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be called something else. It’s your decision. You can always make up another name you like better, like some suggestions on this thread. Mimi and Pop. </p>
<p>I hope all those wishing for a grandchild get their wish at some point. It hasn’t occurred to me to anticipate a grandparent name yet (neither is married, but one is in a long term relationship). I figure there will likely be another set of grandparents to weigh in with preferences and I feel extremely prone to flexible cooperation on this one. Additionally, some of my favorite names are the ones the grandkids came up with while trying to say whatever name was chosen. In my family, one of these names stuck for all 3 grandchildren until they were in high school. I would love that! </p>
<p>Well, I’m not going to let my son pick a nickname for me. Their cats are Stinky and Pig. Enough said? Now that I think about it, I’m a little worried about the baby name now.</p>
<p>It’s also fun when you can undo a name. When we had our first child, H’s parents had been called “Grandma and Grandpa” by two sets of cousins for many years. Still, we asked them what they preferred, and they surprised us thoroughly with “Bubbe and Zayde.” That is Yiddish and hadn’t been heard a while in the extended family, but we did that. Younger cousins born later picked up on it, too. </p>
<p>For my own parents, our kids were the first grandchildren, so we asked them what they preferred with clear field. My Mom was happy with “Grandma” but my Dad said, “Grandfather.” I said, “What do you think we are, the Swiss Family Robinson?” H said, “Sure, but it’ll take a while before they can say ‘Grandfather’.” My Dad said, “I’ll wait.” For many years, he was ‘Fadoo’ which was best our kid could manage, but eventually he got his full wish. That name is their real memory of him. </p>
<p>Some of our cousins now use “Bubbe and Zayde” (Yiddish) for one set of grandparents, and “Saba and Savta” (modern Hebrew) for the other set. I like when it’s different, because I grew up with two “Grandmas” so we’d say, “Grandma Leona” or “Grandma Clara” which took a while when waiting for food. Our 2 grandfathers were “Pop” and “Pop-Pop” so clear as could be. </p>
<p>I sometimes hear the first name used for a Step-Grandparent who married in a bit later. </p>
<p>Still waiting here, so just call me “JumpForJoy” whenever it happens.</p>
<p>My parents’ house is contemporary and has lots of openings for kids to fall through (balconies, stairs, etc.). My oldest son was the first grandchild. Whenever he would crawl too close to a dangerous area, my dad would say, “No, noooo!” with a smile. After awhile, DS would say, “No no!!!” whenever he saw my dad. So eventually, Dad became “Nono.” Somebody told me that’s what some Italian kids call their grandpas, so it worked out OK. My sister didn’t like it, though, so her three kids called Dad “Granddad.” My mom is “Mimi” to everyone.</p>
<p>My kids called their one grandfather “Grandad” and their Grandmothers “Grandma Firstname.” </p>
<p>Incidentally, when we were expecting grandchild no. 1 my MIL was only 45, fabulously gorgeous and single, and appalled at being “grandma.” She initially said the grandchild could call her “Auntie Mame.” That pretty much ended the day D was born. The two had an extremely close relationship and till MIL died much too young, she was thrilled to be “Grandma firstname.”</p>
<p>I am dying for D to make us grandparents–married, talking about it, but nothing yet. Can’t wait!!!</p>
<p>Oh, ML, your story just reminded me that one of the Grandma’s used to calm down a set of twin boys who roughhoused too much in her home, by saying to them, “Easy, easy!” So they called her
“Grandma Easy.” ; </p>
<p>My oldest named my parents Mumma and Grandpa, and ex’s parents Nana and Grandpa “T”. He called my paternal grandmother Nana like everyone else did, and my maternal grandparents Grandma Fristname and Grandpa Firstname. I have 24 and 29 year olds, so in theory I could be a grandmother. But they’re in no hurry, nor are their cousins or friends their age. It’s their business.I’m in no hurry either. If it happens, it happens. I don’t care what I look like if it does, either.</p>
<p>I called my grandparents Nanny and Papa. My mother is Nanny to my children; DH’s parents were Grandma and Grandpa. I’m not sure if I have a preference for what I’d like to be called, but I do like the idea of each set of grandparents having different names to differentiate them.</p>
<p>I’m not worried about what I will be called…I just don’t want to be a grandma until those boys are at least 28 years old at that point I’ve done my job and they can call me anything they want. Fortunately they are in no hurry…which is a good thing since in my opinion until boys turn 28 or so they are a hot mess. I know I have three of them. </p>
<p>My grandma became a grandma at 32 (she is not my bio grandma and there are 14 years between her and my bio grandpa, but my bio grandma abandoned us so she’s the only grandma I’ve ever known). She refused to be called “Grandma” until very recently (the birth of her first great-grandchild triggered it). She just had us call her by her first name which was fine by me as long as I could call her :). </p>
<p>My parents’ neighbor just had her baby a few days ago. The neighbor is just a few years older than me and she and my mom are very close since her own parents are basically non-existent in my life. I joked and told my mom it was her first grandchild. She said that was fine as long as she didn’t become a real grandma for a good 5+ years.</p>
<p>My mom’s parents were “Grandma Name” and “Grandpa Name”. They passed away when I was three though. My dad’s bio mom is called “Granny Name” but I haven’t seen or spoken to her in over 15 years. My Grandpa is “Grandpapa” or “Grandpa O” (our last name is O’SomethingIrish) </p>
<p>My kids don’t have children but my stepdaughter does. When her D was born she asked me what I wanted the kids to call me. Since there were two “real” grandmothers, I figured I’d do what my D’s best friend’s grandmother did–she had the kids call her by her first initial–which was “V”. One of my initials is “J” and the other is “M”–so my stepdaughter suggested we go with “J”. As it turned out my granddaughter would always say “JJ” so that’s what the grandkids call me. I like it and so do my kids. My parents were immigrants from Croatia and my kids used the Croatian words for grandma (Bakka) and Djedica (grandpa).</p>
<p>Nonnie and Poppie are Italian, which I am and like hearing G’son saying. He took to these names surprisingly easily.
momof3boys, I could not agree with you more except that I think it can take until age 35 for some guys.</p>
<p>My grandson calls me GiGi. His choice and I love it. Son and DIL called me Grandma, but he doesn’t have time to say the whole thing so GiGi it was and it never changed.</p>
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