What’s Your Grandmother Name?

Today’s guest post is by Cathy Livingstone, author of Bubbe, Mimi & Gigi: The Best Grandmother Name Book Ever (Volume 1). Her book contains over 500 grandparent names, celebrity names and fun grandparenting facts.

Congratulations! Now, what are they going to call you?

One of the biggest challenges facing today’s new grandmothers is deciding on the name you want your grandchild to call you. An interesting trend over the last few years has emerged among the newest Grandmother generation. Grandmothers are selecting, in fact, declaring their own ‘Grandmother Name.’ Today’s grandmothers are strong, vibrant, independent and very clear about who they are. Mimi, Gigi and Oma have said goodbye to Grandma, Nana and Granny.

What Happened?

Becoming a grandparent in today’s youth-oriented society is not always easy for some. So, when Baby Boomers started becoming Grandparents, they desired a moniker that reflected a youthful image. In particular, Baby Boomer Grandmothers, who are the healthiest, most educated and influential generation of women in history, began veering away from old-fashioned traditional monikers. They wanted a more ‘youthful’ Grandmother name that reflected the way they looked and felt.

Celebrity Grandmas

Searching for the eternal fountain of youth, Celebrity Grandmothers are actively participating in this self-naming trend too. Celebrity focus of staying young is critical to them personally as well as professionally. Having a hip, younger grandmother name keeps the young persona going and dispels any ideas of ‘old!’

Celebrity Grandma Names

  • Kris Jenner: Lovey
  • Sharon Stone: Shazza
  • Blythe Danner: Lalo
  • Goldie Hawn: Glamma
  • Joan Rivers: Nana-New-Face
  • Martha Stewart: Martha
  • Laura Bush: MeeMee
  • Camilla Parker Bowles: GaGa
  • Susanne Summers: Zannie
  • Naomi Judd: MaMaw

Blended Families
Many grandchildren have five or more grandparents – thanks to the rise in step-families – so, differentiation is very important. With over 27% of the families in the U.S. blended, grandparents are actively selecting their names to define and differentiate them from the ‘other’ grandparents!

Creative Names
No two grandmothers are alike and it is important that your ‘Grandmother’ name defines the unique and wonderful grandmother that you are! Grandmothers are getting creative by either selecting or creating a colorful moniker that mirrors their own unique style and personality. Cool names gaining popularity are ‘Glamma’, ‘Coco’ and ‘Sassy.”

Make Your Own:

Gran + Nancy = Grancy
Gran + Angela = Granela
Gran + Godzilla = Granzilla

International Names
Names from other countries have joined the selection of top favorite monikers. They include the Greek ‘YiaYia’ and the Italian ‘Nonna’ for Grandma; and the German ‘Opa’ for Grandpa.

Grandfathers
Not to be left out, Grandfathers are jumping (or being dragged by Grandma) into the self-naming trend too. Hip Mimi doesn’t want to be married to stodgy Grandpa. Mimi has renamed him Poppy because it goes better with Mimi! Fun grandparent couple monikers are Lolly & Pop, Glamma & Glampa, Chickie & Coach, and Birdie & Bogey.

So, whether you are a Mimi, Gigi or Poppi, best wishes for a joyous and adventurous Grandparenthood journey!

1 thought on “What’s Your Grandmother Name?”

  1. My choice was very intentional and something I had decided years before becoming a grandmother. My great grandmother , pregnant, mother of five, with a sick husband , walked 600 miles across Spain . She cleaned and cooked for others because the cheap passage fees were all the money they had. Her 8 month died aboard ship and she buried him on the beach of Buenas Aires , with her bare hand. It was my abuelita that inspired me with her fortitude for a better life. We called her ” Lita ” , short for dear little grandmother. That is why I am Lita also.

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