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?

Could there be a compromise on this? ie, you're known as Granny Nonna? To save confusion we've always called grandparents Granny Sylvia and Granny Joan, so it helps avoid confusion if you're talking about one in front of children - so instead of your name, you'll have Nonna.

I’d leave it up to the children to decide what to call you as they get older, it’s more special that way. My friend’s DD’s grandmothers both invented their own names - not just a single word, two words each, and they’re both absolutely ridiculous and awful. Remember that it will only stick as a name for you if your son and daughter in law are willing to use the name for you at home, because if they call you nanny so will the child - which is why it’s best to stick with what will come naturally to them.

I’ve never understood either. I had a granny, my mum was called granny and my step grandchilden call me Granny. The other grandmothers fortunately were horrified by the idea. If it’s good enough for the Royal family …

My mum wanted to be called Nana, my son was her first grandchild. However my MIL already had 19 other grandchildren who called her Nana and my husband thought it would be confusing if they were both Nana so my mum choose Nanny instead. My son is 2 now and calls them both Nana despite us always having refered to my mum as Nanny and it's really no big deal.

I don't understand why anyone would want to call someone or be called Granny. It just sound very nice.

But, we gave both our mums the choice of what they wanted to be - we have a nanna and nannan. If one of them wanted Granny then sure, be called Granny!

Oh, please. I think you come across as very unimaginative. The Nonnas I know have never had it commented upon that they are not Italian. We live in a global world, and people don’t care. At least not in big, multicultural cities.

Well considering you have no ties to Italy is does seem a bit odd you want to be called Nonna.
Personally I would go for the name that your son suggested, it doesn't seem like a hill worth dying on. Having a peaceful family life, seeing my grandchild would be more important.
Is there any particular reason you oppose granny?

People pick foreign names all the time because they like them. I can't see what's wrong with nonna if it makes the OP happy

We asked grandparents what they'd like to be called. DPs mum wanted to be granny, I don't like granny, but it's her call as far as I'm concerned.

My child asked me what id like grandchild to know me as, Nonno is lovely.

My parents and in laws chose what they wants to be called - Nanny and Grandad and Granny and Grandpa. I wasn't that bothered to be honest so let our parents chose.

I also have a grandad which use to get a bit confusing but my DC's naturally starting calling him Big Grandad as he was older (and to be fair bigger build wise)

I always thought it was up to the grandparents what they wanted to be called 😕

We asked our parents and dd has 2 Grandmas as a result. Not an issue.

I'm half Italian. Why would you want to be called a title that isn't from your culture? You/son/dil/GC are going to get repeatedly asked if you are Italian heritage. Very pretentious, sounds like you don't want to sound old enough to be a granny.

If you were asking to be called nana instead of granny or visa versa you'd be reasonable, but you are being very ridiculous imo.

PP's are right- Nonna is pretentious and odd if you aren't Italian.

My nan insisted on being called Grandma in full, because she said Nanny was a goat. I found Grandma soo Victorian sounding and fomal.

Would it be ok if somebody English wanted their grandchild to call them Eli-si

It's granny in Cherokee

If not why not

I have a Scottish friend who is known as "Nonna" to her granddaughter. I assumed it was a Scottish thing (I'm English), but perhaps not based on this thread!

My kids all call me different names too - my eldest calls me mother, middle one mumma and younger one mama pronounced in the posh way mu-mahhh or mummy. They’re all late teens now and decided on their own what they’d call me over time. I’m sure the baby will come up with its own version of a name for you anyway OP.

I would find it a bit peculiar, with you not having any Italian connection, but if it meant that much to you I’d go along with it.

My parents were Nanny and Grandad and his mother was Grandma.

It seems to be only women that make a fuss of what to be called as there are more variations.

I want to be Nanny.

Why don't you feel like a Granny? Is it just the word you don't like or is it the adjustment to being a grandparent? I don't mean to be rude but you're 73 not 43? I like Nonna but it does seem a bit pretentious. Go with granny and hope a funny pronunciation comes along that becomes a nickname.

It's fine to express a preference, to ask if you could be called something.
It makes sense to suggest something if there are other grandparents too, as sometimes families don't want two "grannies" but prefer a "nana" and a "nanny" or similar.
However, it's really up to the grandchildren and their parents what you're known as.
It's also odd to choose "Nonna" if you don't have any Italian connection. If you don't like the name your family have chosen, why not ask for another one that's more usual in Britain (assuming you're in Britain) or in your culture?

Peculiar!!

God this place is small-minded.

I'm not sure I could get used to Babushka though!

You name yourself as a grandparent. If you want to be nonna, then nonna you are. Don't know if you have Italian connections or not but go for it. I think it sounds lovely and it works fine in English. Very close to nana which lots of people use. Nice and easy to say for little ones too. My mum is a grandma and it ended up being more "ganmar". My FIL has a slightly unconventional name for grandad and we all love it.

chill out, Glenda