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Grandparent names

(33 Posts)
Nanny48 Mon 05-Dec-22 14:42:13

I'd just like opinions on whether I'm being unreasonable in what my new granchild should call us. We have grandchildren with two of our children already. Our names are established. Our dil doesn't like them and wants her new baby to call us something different to what our other grandchildren call us. I'm not happy being called something else and neither is my husband. I can tell my son is uncomfortable with the whole situation but is sitting on the fence. It is the first time we are paternal grandparents and I don't want things strained with our dil. But surely we have a say in what we'd like our grandchild to call us?

stella1949 Tue 06-Dec-22 06:40:29

You are always best to "roll with the flow " . Your relationship with these little people, depends entirely upon your relationship with their parents , so why create problems ?

No doubt when the child gets older and socialises with the other cousins, they will pick up on the name which the others call you. Even if that doesn't happen, surely it's better to keep a good relationship with the parents , and just accept the name you don't like.

AussieGran59 Tue 06-Dec-22 02:05:34

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Loulelady Mon 05-Dec-22 22:58:55

Is it a standard grandparent name she objects to or is it something like Gigi, Li-Li or something that sounds a bit like names for mum and dad like Mami and Poppa?

If the former then I think you should have the choice, if the latter then they have a point.

nanna8 Mon 05-Dec-22 22:03:56

I’m nanna as was my nanna from London. The Northern half of the family used to use Grandma. I noticed my daughter also uses nanna for her grandchildren. I like the feeling of generational connection and it is easy to say when they are little I suppose.

Patsy70 Mon 05-Dec-22 22:03:51

I was asked, 20 years ago, when my first granddaughter was born, what I would like to be called and I requested Nana. Her other grandmother asked to be called Nanny. We’re still very happy with that.

ElaineI Mon 05-Dec-22 21:56:35

I am Granny to both sets and DH Papa. These were used by my mother and DH mother - Granny B and Granny I. DD1 in laws are Granma and Grumpy again kind of passed down. It wouldn't have mattered if we were both the same. Often the children decide themselves so go with the flow.

sodapop Mon 05-Dec-22 17:34:50

tanith

I’m called Nanny, Granny and GaGa by different GC, don't make a big thing of it, the child will call you whatever they decide they want to. Don’t turn it into a fight.

Spot on Tanith enjoy your new grandchild Nanny48 and don't gey hung up on this.

CanadianGran Mon 05-Dec-22 17:18:09

I wouldn't want to be called by a name I didn't like. I do understand your upset, but I wouldn't make waves for now. Sometimes toddlers will choose their own name, and it sticks.

I have always been Granny, by my own choice, and no objections. My DH is Grampa, but my DS's children started calling him Poppa because their other grandfather was Poppa. He gently corrected them and is now established as Grampa. No hurt feelings.

I would wait and see what develops. Once your new grandchild hangs out with their cousins and see what they call you, the little one may fall in line.

nexus63 Mon 05-Dec-22 17:16:13

i have a grandson who is 3 and is autistic, he has difficulty speaking and has just learned to say mummy and daddy, i refer to me as gran or granny, i don't like nana, i also have a step-grandson who remembers his gran and he calls me by my first name, i have never liked titles and all 5 of my siblings children call me by my first name and not auntie, if you really don't want to be called what your dil is asking then explain and come up with something else.

Debbi58 Mon 05-Dec-22 17:13:13

I think it makes sense for the new baby to call you by the same name as your other grandchildren. Wouldn't it be confusing otherwise, it sounds to me like your dil is trying to be awkward

BlueBalou Mon 05-Dec-22 17:11:34

I’m a Nonna and I love it but I really wouldn’t care less about the name to be honest.
My MIL wanted to be called Grandmama, my DCs called her Gran.

henetha Mon 05-Dec-22 17:08:46

For the sake of maintaining a good relationship it's best to just go along with what they want, isn't it?
I'm Nan to all my grandchildren and just love it.

Norah Mon 05-Dec-22 17:02:53

Witzend I would draw the line at Grandma - to me it sounds older and fatter

I would very much dislike being called Grandma, same reason. Fortunately none of our GC and GGC selected Grandma or any derivative.

Not worth a strained relationship - you say complaining leads to strain.

Grannynannywanny Mon 05-Dec-22 16:39:38

I don't want things strained with our dil

Then I think you would be best to go by whatever name they give you. In the grand scheme of things I don’t think it matters a jot.

Hithere Mon 05-Dec-22 16:26:06

You are still the grandparent, no matter what name is picked

This is not worth the battle on a cloudy relationship with the parents of the child

Grandma70s Mon 05-Dec-22 16:01:16

I’m Grandma, and the other one is Granny.she insisted on me having first choice between Granny and Grandma, though I’d have been happy with either. I chose Grandma because I preferred my own Grandma to my Granny.

We didn’t contemplate any other names. To both of us, a nanny is a nursemaid, not a grandmother.,

Maggiemaybe Mon 05-Dec-22 15:58:24

Well, Nanny48, seeing as you ask, I think I'd find this a bit confusing too. My lot have a plethora of names for all their grandmothers - Granny, Grandma, Gran, Nanna, Nan. I'm just glad I know which one I have to respond to. smile

I'd go along with what the DDIL wants though, for the sake of family peace and harmony.

Lathyrus Mon 05-Dec-22 15:47:16

And some people would be happy to be called Vlad the Destroyer, if they had a grandchild to do that.

M0nica Mon 05-Dec-22 15:44:34

What does it matter what they call you?

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet That is a quote from Romeo &Juliet and refers to Romeo being who he is regardless of what name he is calle. If Shakespeare can say it so beautifully, who are you to disagree?

Lots of grandparents are called lots of different names by different families of grandchildren. I couldn't care less what my DGC call me, that they know me and love me, that is all that matters.

I am a paternal grandmother, I have a wonderful DiL and as far as I am concerned, I couldn't give a toss what she teaches the DGC to call me.

timetogo2016 Mon 05-Dec-22 15:44:19

I agree with Hetty58,can`t add to that.

Theexwife Mon 05-Dec-22 15:41:32

The baby’s parents are going to refer to you by the name they have chosen so I don't think you will have a say in it.

Is it an unusual name that the other grandchildren call you? Or is it the name her parents are callled?

My neighbour insists on being called a rather unusual name to her grandchildren which they do not use when talking about her as they are embarrassed.

ParlorGames Mon 05-Dec-22 15:39:11

From experience, once the new GC starts talking they will put their own spin on whatever your DIL wants them to call you, sadly any little ones pronounce names/words perfectly when they begin speaking. Don't stress over it, the GC will love you all the same.

Greenfinch Mon 05-Dec-22 15:37:40

I am called by three different names. The eldest calls me by a name she made up which I like. Her twin brother used to call me the same name until he decided it was too odd and he chose to call me Grandma which I like because he likes it. My son’s children call me Granny (chosen by my son probably because it was what he called my mother) because the other one is Grandma to all eleven of hers. I don’t think the name matters at all.

Witzend Mon 05-Dec-22 15:34:43

Hmm. The other Gm and I are both Granny, our own choices, so Granny L and Granny M if they’re referring to us when we’re absent.
I would draw the line at Grandma - to me it sounds older and fatter, and I’m old and fat enough already, thanks. I don’t much like Nanny or Nana either, though both elder Gdcs called me Nanny when they were too little to manage Granny, and funnily enough, from them it sounded 😍.

Lathyrus Mon 05-Dec-22 15:34:12

You know what, I can’t believe that people who are fortunate enough to have beautiful, healthy grandchildren can get so bothered about a name.