What is wrong with Granny?

Yes.

My DM has always said that Nana is ‘common’. She is Grandma.

My DD has / had a grandma and a Nain (Welsh for granny).

Nain and Nana here, not sure why Nana is so bad?!

What’s wrong with Nana? I always had a Nan and my dd two nanas. Why is it plummeting towards the bottom?!

Our DD had two grandmas. I don't think there was ever a discussion about it, it was just what both families did and had always done. I think MIL in particular would have been appalled to be a Nana, though my DM could probably have coped.

Yeah, it's quite generic/ambiguous. Not tied to a class. From Google...

The term "Nana" for grandmother is not inherently associated with a specific social class. While some perceive it as more common in working-class or northern regions, it's also used by middle-class and southern families. Ultimately, the choice of "Nana" is a personal one, influenced by family tradition, regional dialects, and individual preferences.

I am from the North midlands - and working class. And I would like to be called nana. I called my grandmother nan, and my great grandmother Nanny Jones (her surname obvs.) I have never called anyone granny, but maybe it's becuz I is common. 🙄

For someone to say 'nana is working class,' (like being working class is an insult,) tells me everything I need to know about that person.

@Jane958
Both my grannies were Granny.
My mother was Granny.
My sister has chosen Nana, why?
Is this an indication of how far we are plummeting towards the bottom?

What do mean 'we are plummeting towards the bottom?' Why do you say that someone wanting be called nana is plummeting towards the bottom? Explain.

We have Granny.
Grandma Mary (DH mum that died when DS was a baby)
Grandma Jean (Birth mum's mum that we've met).
My DM chose Granny for herself when my DN' were born. The others are to distinguish.

What is going on round here today?

But buying cards - finding (decent) Granny cards is very tricky. I know as I have been the one to look for them.

Hate to think where Nanny rates then...

We asked our parents what they would like to be called. No other grandchildren at that time. The mums chose their name - funnily enough what their mothers had been, so we had 1 granny and 1 nana. The dads both wanted grandad - so again no problem. Grandad Adam and Grandad Bill. That worked really well letting them all have the choice.

The funny thing is my very working class mum is Granny to my children, and my upper middle class MIL is Nana!

Nothing wrong with Nana…

Can@Jane958 share with us why ‘Nana’ is ‘an indication of how far we are plummeting towards the bottom?’ I don’t understand. Is she making an unpleasant classist sneer?

It’s very “U and non-U” thinking 😂

I had Nanny and Nannie, which in time (bless them both no longer with us) became Nannie in Devon and Nanny in Heaven for much of my childhood. Then I had a Gramps (mum’s dad) a Grandad (dad’s stepdad) and a Captain Grandad (my dad’s dad, a former Merchant Navy captain who LOVED his name which helped with the step parent smoothing over!)

My kids have Nanny and Grandad (my parents), and a Grammy and a Grandpa (DH’s).

I think when/if my time comes I’d like to be a Granny actually - conjures up to me a lovely lady who bungs you sweets and a fiver. Nanny for me makes me think of a paid carer but that may be because all my friends are much richer than me and have actual Nannies so it gets confusing!

One of the origins of Nana is believed to be the Italian word for Grandmother, 'Nonna.' In Sicilian and Greek it's 'Nanna.' How strange that anyone would consider use of the term 'Nana' to be a 'race to the bottom.'

I love being Nana. Live and let live 🤷‍♀️

Mine was Grandmother Featherstonehaugh.

Nana is lovely.

Of course, there may be something about not wanting the age connotations of Granny. My nan was still in her thirties when I was born (and I'm not the oldest grandchild). She and my mum were twice pregnant at the same time. Maybe that bothered her? I've never asked. But yeah, I think the main thing is that Nan has working class connotations (the horror)..

DGS has a nanny (me) & a nana (not me) & a gran'nan. I had a nan. My kids have a nan & a Granny Gogs.

Nothing is a race to anywhere imo

So mum is Granny. And MIL Poppins.....

No nothing wrong at all - I think it's just personal taste.
I'm Granny to the girls and Gran to the boys.
I really dislike Grandma so wasn't prepared to be known as that.
I think I'll be Nana or Old Granny when I'm a Great Grandmother.

I'm Granny - it was good enough for the late Queen and I'm happy with it. My mother is Grandma. I really dislike Nan, Nana and Nanny.

My granddaughter calls me by my initials. I don't want to be granny, grandma, nannie, nana or any of those other names. Makes me think of a old lady, which isn't me.

How is not wanting to be ‘granny’ plummeting to the bottom?

To me ‘grannies’ were old, retired, frail grandparents in children’s stories (I don’t ever remember meeting anyone known as granny in real life, maybe it’s a regional thing).

Grandmothers these days are more likely to be working, younger looking (procedures and hair dye) and in better health (HRT), so less likely to see themselves in that way.

I’m not sure it matters what they want to be called!