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?

I was 50 when I became Grandma

😂

I am assuming @Viviennemary that you're taking the michael with that post?!

@Viviennemary · Today 20:49
I think nana is frightfully common. Granny or Grandma.

If you're being serious, I'm embarrassed for you! 😖

My children called my mum Grandma, and her mum (great grandma) Little Grandma - because she was!

I had a Nana and a Nana/Nanny; DM is therefore also Nana. XH had a Granny; XMIL is therefore also Granny. Simple.

What a snotty post 🙄 I had a wonderful Nana. My aunty is now Nana to her grandson. Calling someone Nana is not 'plummeting towards the bottom', don't be so mean.

I had a wonderful granny , small precious with salt and pepper hair, had a million wrinkles. The perfect image of a precious old lady. My absolute queen. I also had a very glam Nana , hair and nails always done, my mum wanted Nana without question. She loves the title. The other one is just called the wicked old bat. Cause She doesn’t deserve any title.

My grandmother was Grandma and later Granny, my DM was Granny to my DC, my MIL Nanny as her name was Nancy. I am Granny to all three of my grandchildren, just a preference, their other grandmothers are Nana. I do not see one name any more or less than another and much easier for children if their grandparents have different names so that they can differentiate. My son, when he got older always called my DM by her first name, with affection, which she hated (with humour). My husband is Grandad to all of his grandchildren, I would have quite liked him to be Gramps or Pops but the grandchildren get to choose. My adult children refer to me as Mum, Mummy, Mumzy or Mother Goose and my DH Dad, Daddy or Papa Smurf. There are no wrong names as long as they are respectful and said with love.

I always had a Nana, and a Nanny. My kids have Nanny/Nan & Nana. To me, Granny sounds too old, like Grandma & Grandmother.

Sorry, but granny in Greek is pronounced Ya-ya, it's not Nanna.

And as long as grandparent is happy with the name that sticks, that's all that matters. My GM was Gran, my DM was insistent that she wouldn't be and is Nana. Fine, nobody cares.

Exactly. If someone says 'granny' I immediately think of someone of about 93.

If they say nan or nana I think 40, 50s, or early 60s...

Why not Nana? She may feel that your mum is Granny so she can’t be.

I had a nana and a granny. My cousin’s mum chose to be nanny because Nana was still alive when her grandchildren were born. Similarly, my dad’s dad was still alive when my dc was born and so my dad chose a different grandfather name.

The bottom?? Do you mean you perceive Nana as beneath you? Maybe your sister likes the sound of it. Personally I am not keen on Granny, even though I had a Granny, it just sounds old to me.

I will probably be Oma because my children are growing up in Germany. Hopefully not for many years yet! I quite like the sound of it though, even though it's not a name we have ever used in our family.

I'm a 'G-Ran'

No idea why it amused them so much to pronounce it gee ran, but I just went with it and it stuck.

Bottom of what?

My children call my MIL Grandma and my late step-Mum was Grandma <her first name> as my Mum passed away before they were born.

I had a Granny and a Grandma. My cousins had already picked their titles. If I become a grandparent, I’d like to be called Grandma. I have the most positive associations with that title, my Granny was abit bossy, lots of fun, but bossy! 😂

Is this an indication of how far we are plummeting towards the bottom?

No, it is not.

Nana is popular where I live but it makes me shudder. I’ll be Gran or Granny.

As the firstborn grandchild I actually named my Nan and she is Nanny Choo Choo because we had to catch lots of trains to see her when I was little and thr last train went past her house on the way.
Great grandmother was Nanny Mac and she was NI.
Surely, what you're called doesn't matter much. Focus on the fact you have grandchildren to enjoy.

I don’t understand this thread at all. I had a Nan and a Nanna. My mother chose to be Granny.

It’s all the damn same. What on earth is this “race to the bottom” nonsense?

Why would you care? She is your sister not your mother.

In terms of usage, Grandma and Granny are both more commonly used than Nana. This from Yougov March 2025.

You said it best. Makes me think of a little old lady stuck in a rocking chair, knitting all day long.
Not like my glamorous Nanny Smoke who wore 7 inch heels, a huge fur stole and wore make up every day, taught me how to hold a cigarette lighter and used to sing and dance. I’m certainly not a “Granny” and intend to still be on the stage in my 70s, so absolutely not!

I'm granny (once my gd starts talking)

My abusive mother and her abusive mother where nanna

I'm refusing to toe the line-plus my amazing mil is granny-ill follow her lead instead

It's worked out OK as gds mums mother wanted to be nanna

For some reason nobody wanted granny,so I've claimed it

Is it nana or nanna though? Is nana not slang for a banana or a right nana?

I had a grannie. My children have a Grandma Joan and a Grandma Penny (not their real names).

If I get some grandchildren I shall be so thrilled to have them, they can call me whatever they like.

Hahahaha. Yes. There is much to say on my DM in that way.