Our beloved Grandparents

Have you ever wondered about the various names our beloved grandparents are called in the U.S. and other countries?

United States variations on Grandmother names and Grandfather names.

Here in the U.S., we have lots of wonderful grandmother names, as well as lots of great grandfather names. We traditionally call grandparents “Grandmother” and Grandfather,” but of course, we have many wonderful nicknames and other terms of endearment we have given them. Here at LindseyBoo, we know how important our grandparents are, and we have many variations of names for grandparents on our website.

Variations we’ve done on Grandmother and Grandfather

Click on any name below to view it on our beautiful art backgrounds

As you can see, we’ve written many poems for grandparents, however, if you don’t see the special terms of endearment your family uses for the beloved grandparents in your life, I am happy to write a special poem just for you!

I was also curious about how children around the world refer to their grandparents, and in doing some research, I found out lots of interesting grandparent names!

French variations of Grandparents

Did you know that in France (and Quebec, Canada, home to many French Canadians), grandmothers are known as “Grand-mère” and grandfathers as “Grand-père”? Grandmothers are also referred to (very formally) as “Grand-maman”. Grand-mère is also commonly used in its short form of “Gra-mere”, “Mémé” or Mamé ,” and “Grand-père” is popularly used in its short form of “Gra-père” or “Pèpè”.

Swedish variations of Grandparents

In Sweden, grandmothers are called “Mormor” and grandfathers are called “Farmor” – but only the paternal side (the father’s parents). The maternal side grandmother is called “Morfar” and the maternal grandfather is known as “Farfar”.

German variations of Grandparents

Germany’s children call their grandmothers and grandfathers “Oma” and “Opa”, respectively.

Greek variations of Grandparents

And in Greece, a simple “Yaya” means grandmother; and “YiaYia” means grandfather.

Hawaiian variations of Grandparents

Hawaiian children call both of their grandparents “Tutu”; however, grandmothers are “Tutu Wahine” and grandfathers are “Tutu Kane”.

Italian variations of Grandparents

In beautiful Italy, grandmothers are called “Nonna” and “Nana” (a popular grandmother nickname here in the U.S.); and grandfathers are called “Nonno.”

Irish variations of Grandparents

The Irish word for grandmother is “Seanmhathair” but since that is quite the mouthful, Irish children are more likely to call their wonderful grandmothers “Maimeo” or Moraí” and their grandfathers simply “Daideo.”

Brazilian and Portuguese variations of Grandparents

In Brazil and Portugal, grandmothers and grandfathers are both referred to as “Avo”; however, interestingly enough, there is an accent above the “o” for the grandfather, and it is spelled “Avô.”

Belgium variations of Grandparents

In Belgium, grandmothers are called “Bomma” and grandfathers are “Bommi”; both shortened to “Oma” and Omi”, respectively.

Russian variations of Grandparents

In vast Russia, grandmothers are known as “Babushka” and grandfathers are called “Dadushka.”

Spanish and Latin American variations of Grandparents

In Spain and Latin America, grandmothers are called “Abuela” and “Abuelita”, shortened to “Lita”; and grandfathers are called “Abuelo”, and “Abuelito”, shortened to “Lito.”

India variations of Grandparents

Children in India, like Sweden, refer to their grandparents differently depending on the maternal and paternal sides of the family. The maternal side grandparents are called “Nani” (grandmother) and “Nana” (grandfather). The paternal side grandparents are called “Dadi” (grandmother) and “Dada” (grandfather).

South African variations of Grandparents

In South Africa, children of the Zulu civilization refer to their grandmothers as “Gogo” or “Ugogo” (and many of us grandmothers can definitely relate to being “on the go-go” when the grandchildren come to visit!), and they call their grandfathers “Umkhulu.”

Chinese variations of Grandparents

In China, again, like Sweden and India, children refer to grandparents differently depending on the maternal side and paternal side. Chinese grandmothers on the maternal side of the family are called “Lao Lao” and grandfathers are called Lao Ye or Wai Gong; on the paternal side, grandmothers are known as “Nai Nai” and grandfathers are “Zufu”.

I found it fascinating to find out all the different ways we refer to grandparents around the world, but no matter what name we know them by, or what country we’re in, we always refer to them with great love, respect and reverence. Our grandparents are truly treasures in our world.

Thank you for reading this article and I hope you enjoy browsing our website for all the names of your loved ones!

If you enjoy reading about the popularity and meanings of names, check out my in-depth article “What’s in a Name?”

What’s in a name?

Here is a short excerpt:

“We believe all children are gifts to our world, and their beautiful, deeply thought-out names deserve to be memorialized in poetry, meant to not only capture the wonderful feelings the gift giver has for the recipient, but also the wonderful characteristics and attributes of the recipient.“

As King Solomon aptly stated, “A good name is rather to be chosen than riches.”

Click here to read the full article.

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