One of the biggest joys in my life continues to be the ability to be a grandmother to my 26 grands. If you’re brand new to the grandparenting game, don’t worry, you’ll learn the ropes and understand the joy in no time!

If you’re a bit more experienced and have seen a grandchild grow up, then you probably know that “grandma” and “grandpa” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue of a cooing baby.

One reason I love different grandparent names is that they give the baby a way to refer to you before they can even say “grandma” and “grandpa”.

I also love grandparent nicknames because they set the relationship you have with your grandchildren apart from that of all the other grandparents and grandchildren in the world.

Speaking of grandparents around the world, these are some grandparent names that I thought were completely adorable with international origins:

• Baba & Gigi: These are the Ukrainian names for grandparents.
• Nana & Papa: Even though the origins of these are unknown, they are definitely baby-friendly.
• Savta & Saba: A bit more challenging, these are the Hebrew names for grandparents.
• Oma & Opa: While the origins of this pair is a bit more unknown, we do know that they are derived from either the German or Deutsch words for grandma and grandpa.
• Amma & Afi: These are common for Icelandic children to use in relation to their grandparents.

Choosing grandparent names

If you’re thinking about your nickname then, in my opinion, the best way to pick a nickname is to not pick at all, let the baby decide, it makes it all the more special!

You can read some sweet, heartwarming stories of how some of our readers developed their grandparent nicknames here.

If you have something to say about your grandparent nickname, let’s talk! I want so much to hear your opinions + feelings. I also want you to speak up so that women our age remain visible. I think we have a responsibility to share our wisdom, don’t you?