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  3. 66 of Our Favorite Southern Grandma Names and Nicknames

66 of Our Favorite Southern Grandma Names and Nicknames

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated March 08, 2022
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grandma names, grandmother
Credit: Getty Images

Becoming a parent is one of the scariest, most surreal moments in life. Becoming a grandparent is all about the fun. It's not Mama who sneaks you cookies well after you're supposed to be eating sugar—it's Grandma. To give her the recognition she deserves, we've got the cutest grandma nicknames in the grandma game. We've compiled our favorite grandma nicknames for the family matriarch that are sure to inspire you when your time comes. Southern grandmothers are a national treasure. From the food they'll always have in their kitchens, to their tried-and-true traditions that warm us from the inside out, we can think of 1,001 reasons why we're blessed to have these special women in our lives. If you were raised in the South, chances are there isn't a nickname for grandma that you haven't heard. From grandma nicknames in other languages to unique grandma names, we've got a fun list of options for the new grandmother in your family. We've collected a few of our favorites ranging from the classics to the utterly unique. 

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The Best Southern Grandma Names

Whether your grandmother is more of a Mimi than a Queen Mother, we have lots of special ways to name these beloved ladies.

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Abba

Abba
Credit: Southern Living

She may not be as universally known as the band ABBA, but to you there's only one Abba that really matters. 

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Abuela

Abuela
Credit: Southern Living

Abuela and Abuelita are common Spanish grandmother names. 

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Amma

Amma

Amma is a shortened version of "Gamma." 

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Baba

Baba
Credit: Southern Living

They'll master your grandma name when it's so close to the word for their bottle. 

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Babs

Babs, grandma names
Credit: Getty Images

This grandma name could be a shortened version of "Barbara," or just a unique name for your grand kiddies to call you. 

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Birdy

Birdy
Credit: Southern Living

A fun grandma name like this would pair well with a grandpa who goes by "Tweety" or "Biggy."

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Bomma

Bomma
Credit: Southern Living

"We're going to Bomma's house" never sounded so sweet. 

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Bubbe

Bubbe
Credit: Southern Living

"Bubbeh" is the Yiddish word for grandmother. 

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Bunny

Bunny Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Some Bunny loves you! 

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Cookie

Cookie Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

A sweet grandma name for a sweet season of life! 

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Darling

Darling Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

You'll bring a whole new meaning to "that's just darling." 

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Didi

<p>Didi could be a nickname for Diana or Deborah. </p>

Didi could be a nickname for Diana or Deborah. 

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G

G
Credit: Southern Living

Simple, but effective. 

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Gaga

Gaga Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

You're more fabulous than Lady Gaga in your grandchildren's eyes. 

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GamGam

GamGam Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Who doesn't love alliteration? 

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Gamma

Gamma Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

"Grandma" might be difficult for little ones to pronounce at first, so "Gamma" is a sweet substitution. 

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Gammie

Gammie Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Like "Grammy," this grandma name will never go out of style.  

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Gan-Gan

<p>You'll never tire of your precious grandkids calling your name. </p>

You'll never tire of your precious grandkids calling your name. 

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Gigi

Gigi Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

This popular grandma name is just too cute. 

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Glamma

Glamma
Credit: Southern Living

Glamma because you're a glamorous Southern grandma. 

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G-Ma

G-Ma
Credit: Southern Living

Your grandkids will appreciate this cool name abbreviation when they're older. 

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GoGo

GoGo
Credit: Southern Living

We're all for throwing it back to the 70s with a name like GoGo. 

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Grammy

Grammy Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

A classic grandma name for a classy lady. 

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Grams

Grams
Credit: Southern Living

Grams and Pops – the sweetest grandparent name combination!

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Gran

Gran Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

There's nothing more endearing than the name your grandchildren choose for you. 

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Grandma

Grandma
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

The go-to name for generations. 

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Grandmama

Grandmama Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Grandmamas make the world go round. 

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Grandmom

Grandmom
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Consider this name the slightly more modern version of "Grandmother."

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Grandmother

Grandmother
Credit: Southern Living

A proper name for a proper Southern grandma. 

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Grannie

Grannie
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Like "Grammie," but slightly easier to pronounce for learning ears. 

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Honey

Honey
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Because all grandmas are sweet like honey! 

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Lala

Lala
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

"Lala, come play!" 

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Lolly

Lolly
Credit: Southern Living

Pair this grandma name with "Pop" for the ultimate grandparent name duo. 

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Lovie

Lovie Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

All of the best hugs and kisses come from Lovie! 

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Ma

Ma
Credit: Southern Living

Short and sweet! 

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Mamoo

Mamoo
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Every grandma name is unique and special in its own right. 

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Marmi

Marmi
Credit: Southern Living

This name is great for grandmothers named Margaret, Marnie, or Maggie.

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Mawmaw

Mawmaw Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

We all know someone who's called Mawmaw by their grandkids. 

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Mee

<p>Like Grammie, but shortened for ease. </p>

Like Grammie, but shortened for ease. 

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Meems

Meems
Credit: Southern Living

"Meems always has the best sweets at her house." 

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Memaw

Memaw Grandmother Name Image
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

The name Memaw has a special place in our Southern hearts. 

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Memere

Memere
Credit: Southern Living

You never know what name grandkids will come up with! 

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Mimi

Mimi Grandmother Name Image
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Fresh baked cookies at Mimi's house just taste better. 

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Mimsy

Mimsy
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

We're not sure why adding "-sy" to the end of names automatically makes them sweeter. Must be something about the little ones who say it! 

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Mine

Mine Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Your grandkids are right to stake their claim on you as best grandma. 

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Mom-Mom

<p>Because two moms in a name is always more fun than one. </p>

Because two moms in a name is always more fun than one. 

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Moo

Moo Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Oh, the joys of being a grandma!

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Mumsy

Mumsy
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We love the British sound of this grandma name. 

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NaiNai

NaiNai
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NaiNai means grandmother in Mandarin. 

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Nan

Nan
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Going to Nan's house is always a treat for the kids. 

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Nana

Nana Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Why not have a grandma name that rolls off the tongue?

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Nannie

Nannie Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

"Nannie knows how to make anything taste delicious."

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Nene

Nene Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Little ones love their repetition. 

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Noni

Noni Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

A variation in spelling of "Nonna," "Nonni" means grandparents in Italian. 

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Nonna

Nonna
Credit: Southern Living

An Italian Nonna will always spoil her grandbabies. 

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Oma

Oma
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Oma means grandmother in German, and it is also a popular Indonesian grandmother name. 

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Queenie

Queenie
Credit: Southern Living

Because grandmas are the queens of just about everything. 

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Sassy

Sassy
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Grandkids know not to mess around with Sassy or she'll turn into her namesake. 

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Sissy

Sissy
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Sissy is such an affectionate grandma name.

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Suga'

Suga' Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Straight from a Southern grandma's favorite phrase: "Come here darlin' and give me some Suga'."

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Sweets

Sweets Grandmother Name
Credit: Mary Elizabeth

With a name like Sweets, any grandma is sure to live up to her title. 

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Tootsie

Tootsie
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Because grandmas are sweet like Tootsie Rolls. 

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Tutu

Tutu
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Tutu is a shortened version of the formal name for a grandma in Hawaiian. 

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Yaya

Yaya
Credit: Mary Elizabeth Davis

Yaya is the word for grandmother in Greek. 

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YiaYia

YiaYia
Credit: Southern Living

YiaYia is another variation of the name for grandmother in Greek. 

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    1 of 66 The Best Southern Grandma Names
    2 of 66 Abba
    3 of 66 Abuela
    4 of 66 Amma
    5 of 66 Baba
    6 of 66 Babs
    7 of 66 Birdy
    8 of 66 Bomma
    9 of 66 Bubbe
    10 of 66 Bunny
    11 of 66 Cookie
    12 of 66 Darling
    13 of 66 Didi
    14 of 66 G
    15 of 66 Gaga
    16 of 66 GamGam
    17 of 66 Gamma
    18 of 66 Gammie
    19 of 66 Gan-Gan
    20 of 66 Gigi
    21 of 66 Glamma
    22 of 66 G-Ma
    23 of 66 GoGo
    24 of 66 Grammy
    25 of 66 Grams
    26 of 66 Gran
    27 of 66 Grandma
    28 of 66 Grandmama
    29 of 66 Grandmom
    30 of 66 Grandmother
    31 of 66 Grannie
    32 of 66 Honey
    33 of 66 Lala
    34 of 66 Lolly
    35 of 66 Lovie
    36 of 66 Ma
    37 of 66 Mamoo
    38 of 66 Marmi
    39 of 66 Mawmaw
    40 of 66 Mee
    41 of 66 Meems
    42 of 66 Memaw
    43 of 66 Memere
    44 of 66 Mimi
    45 of 66 Mimsy
    46 of 66 Mine
    47 of 66 Mom-Mom
    48 of 66 Moo
    49 of 66 Mumsy
    50 of 66 NaiNai
    51 of 66 Nan
    52 of 66 Nana
    53 of 66 Nannie
    54 of 66 Nene
    55 of 66 Noni