I want to be called Nonna but….

[Moira1951]

I’ve been told Nonna is unacceptable by my son as they want my first ever grandchild (at 73) to call me granny. I don’t want to be called granny, do I have a choice as to what I’d like to be known as?

May I suggest Bibi, it is Nonna in Swahili 😁

Bullies enjoy putting their feet down.

I mean… I’m a Nonna and I’m not Italian. I’m also not a grandmother, it’s just my nickname as I couldn’t pronounce my own name as a baby!

😆 She sounds fab! What did she want to be called @Crunchingleaf ?

I’m not the type to make a fuss and will go with the flow. I came on here to get a feel for others opinions. I just think my son could have been a bit more accommodating. I’m just not keen on granny, the other on is called grandma by the two grandchildren she already has and that’s fine. I’d just have liked a choice.

Isnt Gan Gan actually a version of Great Gran?

I wonder if the reason lots of people don’t like the term Granny is that it’s often used in a perjorative way by ageist people.

I do also agree it’s up to the parents what the children call their GPs, not the GPs themselves. GPs choosing a name for themselves is not something past generations would even have thought about

That seems odd. It’s like telling someone your name is Valerie, and they say ‘okay Susan’, because they like the name Susan better than Valerie and prefer saying it, and then you are unreasonable for not going with what they want.

It's the OPs choice what she wants to be called. Its her name.

My Mum is 90 and she is GiGi to her great grandchildren - nothing weird about it at all - it is lovely!! And they are not my grandchildren so not chosen by me chosen by her!

No I’m not, just thought as it’s so similar to nanna or nanny it wouldn’t be a big deal, but it appears it is.

I’ve seen it argued both ways on here. Who knows what the child will end up being able to call you - that’s how new names start such as Gan Gan etc

I think you have the right to be called something you feel comfortable with - would Nana work for you if it's the 'non britishness' they don't like? I am astonished how bossy some posters on here are. This is not a DGP trying to veto the kids' names or interfere in child rearing, just wanting to be called something they are comfortable with. Some of you really need to think about what 'boundaries' are for.

I’m not a gp yet but I think you should be able to have a say in what you’re called. My mum didn’t want to be called granny so she’s nanna, which was her preference. I’ve already assumed that I get to choose my preference when (if) I become a gp, it seems totally reasonable to me to have that assumption.

Since you are not Italian YABU and it's quite silly - go with granny or grandma ( i don't like nanny or nana)

Imo, the only thing you get to decide when a grandchild is born is what they will call you. Having said that, there’s no guarantee they’ll call you that name either. My grandchildren all call me by the name my oldest grandson called me - he made up his own name for me.

I remember when dd was pregnant with her first. I was asked multiple times whether I would be Granny, Nanny or whatever. I said that I didn’t know because the little one would choose. I had no preference and grew up with a Nanny and Grandmother. Mine had a Granny and a Nanny.

When DGC arrived Dd would write Nanny in cards etc but when DGC started talking they called me Mana which stuck (for now). DH is Ganda!
I love any of the names because I really love being a grandparent! It sounds beautiful because it comes from a beautiful little person.

Why shouldn't grandparents have a choice in what they want to be called? If you want to be Nonna then go ahead and call yourself Nonna - even if you aren't Italian!

Honestly don’t make this your hill to die on. Ultimately the kids decide and making a fuss about it now will damage your relationship with your family.

You could just call yourself that when talking to your child. They'll start calling you it. I tried assigning names, but my kids just called them different names!

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but if you like grandma why can't you be grandma Moira? My grandmas were both Nana with their name attached.

Anyway I hope it works out for you. I think the PP who said you won't care once the beautiful babe is in your arms was right. I hope so anyway.

Sorry its weird.

We went with grandma or granny and surname. Mil wanted first names but we didn't use them so kids called them what we called them. Thankfully my mum couldn't care less about what the kids called her

I think you should have a say in what you are called, but children often make up their own names.

We used Grandma first name to differentiate between them, but my daughter had trouble pronouncing the Pr sound at the beginning of Priscilla; Grandma Piss soon became Grandma Cilla...

I would go with nanna `since you have no Italian connection. Granny...absolutely not if you don't want it ( i wouldn't either and it is never going to happen ). Just always refer to yourself as what you want to be called .

You should get a choice! My best friends growing up called their grandmother Nonna because its just how they said Nana when they were tiny. It stuck as Nonna and no one batted an eye.
Granny sounds like a little old lady in a cartoon to me. I won't be called it.