What is wrong with Granny?

[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?

Mine was Grandmother Featherstonehaugh.

Nana is lovely.

I love being Nana. Live and let live 🤷‍♀️

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.'

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!

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?

Nothing wrong with Nana…

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

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.

Hate to think where Nanny rates then...

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

What is going on round here today?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Yes.

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

My grandparents were Nanny X and Nanny Y where X and Y were surnames.

My mum is granny and the other grandparents are Nani and Nanu (Indian)..

I'm in NI and I think Nanny is quite common.

Makes me think of Granny Weatherwax who is exactly what I’d like to be when I grow up.

I'm 45 with 3 DGC and when my first was on her way I told my daughter I wanted to be known by granny she looked at me in shock haha , but mum you're too young to be a granny ? Errr you made me a granny silly 😜 but as it is my granddaughter called me debera to start with not even my name then went on to Nani now the other 2 have followed suit so i never got my wish of being called granny 😆

There's nothing wrong with it at all. Just the OP trying to be superior but actually coming across as an arsehole

Surely it’s the grandparent concerned who decides what they want to be called? I checked with both of our mothers what they wanted to be called when our daughter was born. They both felt very strongly that they wanted to be known as grandma, rather than granny, nanny, or nana.

Nana is typical for the north east of England. Nowt wrong with it at all. It has a warmth about it.

Both of my grandmothers were "Grandma + surname." My great-grandmother was Granny, so in my mind "Granny" only applies to a much older woman (Granny was 96 when she died).

To my children, my mother-in-law is "Grandma+first name," and my ex-husband's stepmother is "Nana."