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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is wrong with Granny?

418 replies

Jane958 · 14/06/2025 20:05

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?

OP posts:
Deepf60 · 15/06/2025 19:44

cumbriaisbest · 14/06/2025 21:08

I hate Nana, it sounds common.

No it doesn't it's friendly

FedupofArsenalgame · 15/06/2025 19:51

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 15/06/2025 19:35

I've never heard "Nana " in my area - HC England.

My DGD in NZ calls me Nana - not keen , but I go with it.

Really Quite a few here SE home counties. Including me

LiteralLunatic · 15/06/2025 19:57

We had a great grandmama. I rather like grandmama, what’s the verdict on that? 😂

Trishthedish · 15/06/2025 20:06

My children called my dad Dedah. My mum was granny. I am granny. My friend is Gary as her grandchildren mispronounced granny. Who cares what they call you as long as you are loved and they love you in return.

deeahgwitch · 15/06/2025 20:08

I had a Nana, my daughter had a Nana and hopefully I will be a Nana.
Or Mamo which is Irish for Grandmother/ Grandma/Granny/ Nana/ Nanny.

I would consider the use of Nana to be more upmarket than Nanny.
I’m in Ireland though so it may be different in the UK

OMGafourth · 15/06/2025 20:11

My grandmother's were both grandmas. My great-grandmothers were both nanny. So nanny always feels really old to me 😅

NavyBee · 15/06/2025 20:16

I‘m from the UK but live in New Zealand (and have for the last 40 years). Nana is very common here - I’m Nana and so the other grandma to my daughter’s kids. Our choice - we were both asked. Granny sounds very old to me and Grandma is my mother in law who is still alive. Is OP’s feeling about Nana a class thing? Sounds working class? I’m a bit puzzled by the race to the bottom comment.

Yellowshirt · 15/06/2025 20:17

I had a nan and grandma and two grandads which I thought was normal as a kid.
I married an English woman whose parents are Welsh and we had a daughter born in England.

My now ex wife's dad wanted to be called bampa which is ok for a young child but hearing her say bampa now age 20 is absolutely awful.

Dnchance · 15/06/2025 20:18

What’s wrong with being working class? The aristocracy despise the middle class—you aren’t at the top of the chain. What’s the point in looking down on the people who do the real work. I loved my working class Nana who brought eight kids into the world—and loved all their thirty children.

Starling7 · 15/06/2025 20:19

Nana is cooler

AngelaBB · 15/06/2025 20:22

I love bring called Grannie, it’s the best.

Jumpers4goalposts · 15/06/2025 20:30

In our house Granny was for the Great Grandparents and Nanny was for the Grandparents. No real reason.

Happyonfriday · 15/06/2025 20:30

In our family we have a gran, granny & grandma… (kids all just say gran or grandma not great gran etc)
i don’t want to be any of those! I have no idea what but I don’t like any of them. Won’t use Nan as it’s actually a family members name…

I think your sister probably feels it’s time for a change instead of many grannies in the family!

Dr13Hadley · 15/06/2025 20:34

My DC have a granny, and two nanas.

Ladymeade · 15/06/2025 20:54

My maternal grandparents were Nana (as in banana as opposed to nanna) and Papa.

BeckyBloom · 15/06/2025 21:04

When I was a kid in the 1970’s my mum became a grandma. She was very ‘aspiring’ and thought nana was working class. Which we were anyway! Actually she probably thought it common!

Courgettezuchinni · 15/06/2025 21:05

In our family we have a (great) granny, grandma, nanna and (step) nonna in the family. Grandad, grampa and Pops for the men!

Mischance · 15/06/2025 21:05

I am Grandma to some, Mama to others and occasionally Moo ... don't ask ...
Their GPs on the other sides of their families are Nanny and Granny.
Not sure quite what has pulled OP's chain. Grandparents finish up with a variety of names.

TheFifthTellytubby · 15/06/2025 21:10

jamimmi · 15/06/2025 16:15

Granny is Scotland is most definitely not upper class😀

Agreed - and it really isn't the done thing to elbow her off any form of public transport! 😁

Becwi · 15/06/2025 21:11

Jumpers4goalposts · 15/06/2025 20:30

In our house Granny was for the Great Grandparents and Nanny was for the Grandparents. No real reason.

Same in my house

Scarlettpixie · 15/06/2025 21:13

You sound a bit snobby. There is nothing wrong with nana - it is personal choice,

My mum and mum in law were both asked what they wanted to be called. My mum was grandma and my MIL grannie (it’s a bugger to find cards with ie on the end). I was happy they chose differently as it made it easier to refer to them and now they are no longer with us (mum died when DS was 7 and MIL when he was 3) we can still talk about them easily.

My mums mum died long before I was born and so I think of her as my mums mum. Same with her dad. My grandma and grandad were my dads parents (even though my grandma died when I was 2).

Dahlia1234 · 15/06/2025 21:17

I'm Nana to my little beauties. I don't like Grandma or Granny so it was easy to decide 😊

TheArtfulNavyDreamer · 15/06/2025 21:20

I had a gran and a nana, my daughter had a granny and a nana. Unclear as to the issue???

Britinme · 15/06/2025 21:21

My mum and MIL were Nana to my kids and I am Nana to my grandchildren. I’m slightly alarmed that anybody would perceive this as “plummeting to the bottom”. Is it as bad as using fish knives or calling napkins serviettes?

JohnnyLuLus · 15/06/2025 21:22

My children have a Granny and Grandad and a Granny and Grumps.
I had two Nana and Grandads (Nana pronounced in a very localised particular way though: Nan-nar).
I think when my time comes I might be a Grandma, although I like the Dutch Oma.