NN for Grandparents

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2005
NN for Grandparents
21
Mon, 11-14-2005 - 10:38pm

My MIL wants to be called "Oma" and "Opa" due to their German background. I can't help but think of the Oompa Loompa's from Willy Wonka. She refuses to be called "Grandma" because it sounds old to her. Does anyone have any good suggestions for nn for grandparents?

Thanks!

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Avatar for amykrisb
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 12:51am

DH's grandparents are Oma and Opa to our kids. They were Grandma and Grandpa to my husband, but his great grandparents were Oma and Opa to him. I guess it's a great grandparent tradition in DH's family, which is German. It's not uncommon to hear about Omas and Opas among people here in south Texas. There are a lot of people of German descent. I'd never thought about the Oompah Loompahs since we know so many Omas and Opas.

Now that our parents are grandparents, neither grandmother wants to be called Grandma. We have a Grammy and a Grannie. My grandmother was Grammy and is now Gram, since all of the grandchildren are grown. The great grandchildren call her Great Gram. Nana reminds me of banana, so I won't mention that possibility to our children. A friend's children calls their grandmother Mimi. That's cute too. My nephew called SIL's mother Gran.

Those are all the nicknames I know. I hope you can find something you like!
Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-11-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 7:47am
I like Oma and Opa. I have always called my grandparents Nana and Boppa.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 8:42am

I like Oma and Opa very much.

Other ideas:

Grandmother:
Grandma
Gram
Grammy
Granny
Gammy
Gamma
Mom-Maw
Mam-Maw
Mimi
Nana
Nan-Nan
Nan-Naw
Mom-Mom
Mum-Mum
Nonny
Nanny
Maw
Ma

Grandfather:
Grandpa
Granddaddy
Granddad
Grandy
Grand
Pop
Poppa
Pop-Pop
Paw-Paw
Paw
Pa
Poppy
Nandaddy
Pap
Pap-Paw
Pap-Pap
Pappy
Grandpap

Good Luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2005
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 9:23am
I like Oma and Opa. I think they are sweet names for grandparents. I think it is nice to incorporate thier German heritage.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 12:50am
We let our parents pick their own nn, but over time the child will probably alter at least one of them. My mother and father picked Nana and Poppy (although my oldest changed that to Poppa as soon as she could speak), and my husband's parents chose Grampa and Gramma Joy (she insisted on the Joy, rather than simply Gramma, and even seemed agitated when our then-two-year-old daughter couldn't grasp the concept of saying both names, but she has now pretty much become simply Gramma lol). I personally think Oma and Opa are cute (and you will too if they stick and you actually hear your child say them), and it's nice to stay in touch with your heritage. If you absolutely can't stand them, maybe ask if there are any other names they would consider. Good luck! :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 11:44am
I have a friend that calls her grandma Oma. I never made the Willy Wonka connection. I call my grandmother Nunnie. I'd vote for letting them be called what they want to be called.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 12:02pm

If you realize that Oma and Opa are very common (esp in NE US, due to eastern european, german, polish heritage) you wouldn't think they sounded weird. Many of my friends growing up called their grandparents this.


My parents are from the south so my dad is going by Papaw (same thing I called his dad) but my mom doesn't like the matching 'Mamaw" so she picked "Mimi". We'll see what the baby decides on!


My in laws are Nana and Papa.

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Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 4:35pm

I always had a Memere and Peppe, on both sides of my family. Since my mother's parents passed away when I was very young (18 months I think)and my father's father passed away shortly after I have always refered to them as Grandma and Grandpa. The one grandmother still alive has always been Memere.

My mother insits on being called Memere while my dad is going with Grandpa. My DH's parents will be Grandma and Grandpa...though I am told children usually pick what they want to call their grandparents. Personally I like Oma and Opa. I think Grandma and Grandpa are too boring.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2004
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 10:46pm

all right! somebody from the south! :)


My parents are Papaw and Memaw; my ILs are Grandma and PawPaw; DH's GPs are MawMaw and PawPaw; and my MIL's GM is Grandma.


I personally am going to be called Nonny, lol. I always called my grandparents Grandma and Grand-dad. (My maternal grandfather has always been Grand-daddy because I was only a toddler when he passed away)


My DS also has a Nana - his bio mother's mother.


P.S. - Oma and Opa is cute!




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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 11:09pm

Lots of my kids' friends and a few of my friends have Oma and Opas, they're not at all odd :P I've also known Nonni, Nonno and Nonnas, Baba and Ammas, Dida and Dadu, Bubbies and Zaidies, MeMe (May-May) and Granpere...and someone at somepoint had a Yia-yia (Greek maybe?)

My grandfather was Gramps, and our kids have three sets of grandparents: Grumpy and Gran, Nain/Nainy and Taid (pron. Nine and Tide, they're Welsh), and Nana and Grandda. My dad insisted on being called Grumpy. Sometimes Nain/Nainy and Nana/Nan/Nanny get mixed up, but the kids know who they're talking about :)

-Si

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