Grandparent names can be as idiosyncratic to your particular family as they are common throughout your language or culture, but what they all have in common is that they (mostly) evoke warm, fuzzy feelings. Unless you dreaded going to Nana’s house as a child, or associate the word “Gramps” with unpalatable hard candies you begrudgingly accepted every year on your birthday.
From variations on “grandma” in English to the preordained names some languages assign to maternal grandmothers versus paternal grandfathers, grandparent names are so numerous and varied around the world, you can fill an entire book with them.
Here are just a few of the grandparent names that are most common in other cultures — as well as some of the more unique names Babbel staffers call their favorite elders.
Grandparent Names Around The World
American English:
Grandma and Grandpa
Nana and Papa
Noni and G-Daddy
Mami France and Papi
Russian:
Babushka and Dedushka
Greek:
Yia Yia and Papou
Portuguese:
Avó and Avô (European)
Vóvó and Vôvô (Brazilian)
Spanish:
Abuela and Abuelo (can be shortened to Abu in some parts of Latin America)
Mandarin (Northern Dialect):
Maternal side: Lăolao and Lăoye
Paternal side: Năinai and Yéye
Mandarin (Southern Dialect):
Maternal side: Wàipó and Wàigōng
Swedish:
Maternal side: Mormor and Morfar
Paternal side: Farmor and Farfar
Hindi:
Maternal side: Nani and Nana (Naniji and Nanaji for additional respect)
Paternal side: Dadi and Dada (Dadiji and Dadaji for additional respect)
Gaelic:
Maimeó and Daideó
French:
Grand-mère and Grand-père
Swahili:
Bibi and Babu
Italian:
Nonna and Nonno
German:
Oma and Opa
Japanese:
Obachan and Ojiisan
Filipino:
Lola and Lolo