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Families are rooted in culture and traditions being passed down from generation to generation. And there is no better example of this passage of knowledge, customs, and heritage than the connection between a grandparent and a grandchild. Our list of international grandmother names will help you choose a name that carries a piece of your heritage. Find yours below!
International grandmother names
Aboriginie
Australian Formal – Garrimaay
Australian Paternal – Mamaay
Australian Maternal – Momu
Polynesian Maori dialect – Tipuna Wahine
African
Berber dialect – Henna
Botswanan – Nkuku
Shona dialect – Ambuya
Swahili – Bibi, Nayanya
Venda dialect – Makhulu
Xhosa dialect – Umakhulu
Zulu dialect – Ugogo
Afrikaans
Ouma
Albanian
Gjyshe
American Indian
Cherokee – E-Ni-Si
Cheyenne – Neske’e
Eskimo, Inupiaq dialect – Aanaga
Navajo (maternal) – Ma’saani
Navajo (paternal) – Nali’
Ojibway – Nookmis, Nookomis
Arabic
Formal – Jaddah, Jiddah
Informal – Teta
Armenian
Tatik
Basque
Amona
Belarusen
Babka
Breton
Mamm-gozh
Cajun
MawMaw
Catalan
Àvia, Iaia
Chinese
Cantonese Paternal – Ngin
Cantonese Maternal – PoPo
Mandarin Paternal – Zumu
Mandarin Maternal – Wài pó
Croatian
Baka
Danish
Formal – Bedstemoder
Paternal – Farmor
Maternal – MorMor
Dutch
Grootmoeder
Esperanto
Avin
Estonian
Va naema
Farsi
Madar Bozorg
Filipino, Cebuano
Formal – Apohang babae
Informal – Lola
Finnish
Isoaiti
Mummo
Flemish
Bomma
French
Formal – Grand-mère
Informal – Gra-mere, Mémé
Semiformal – Grandmaman
Galician
Avoa
Georgian
Bebia
German
Formal – Grossmutter
Informal – Oma
Greek
Yaya
Gigia
Guarani, South America
Jaryi
Hawaiian
Formal – Kapuna Wahine
Informal – Puna, TuTu, KuKu
Hebrew
Savta
Safta
Hungarian
Formal – Nagyanya
Informal – Yanya, Anya
Icelandic
Amma
Indian
Bengali Paternal – Thakur-ma
Bengali Maternal – Dida, Didima
Hindi – Daadima
Southwestern – Ajii
Urdu Paternal – Daadi
Urdu Maternal – Nanni
Indonesian
Nenek
Irish/ Gaelic
Formal – Seanmhair
Informal – Maimeo or Morai, Mavoureen
Italian
Nonna
Japanese
Formal – Obaasan, Oba-Chan, Sobo (one’s own grandmother)
Informal – Obaba
Korean
Halmoni
Latvian
Vecmate
Lebanese
Sitti
Lithuanian
Senele, Mociute
Malagasy
Nenibe
Maltese
Nanna
Norwegian
Bestemor, Godmor
Paternal – Farmor
Maternal – MorMor
Polish
Formal – Babka, Babcia
Informal – Jaja, Zsa-Zsa, Bush, Gigi
Portuguese
Avo
Romanian
Bunica
Russian
Babushka
Sanskrit
Paternal – Pitaamahii
Maternal – Maataamahii
Serbian
Baba
Mica
Slovakian
Babicka
Slovenian
Stara Mama
Spanish
Formal – Abuela
Informal Diminutive – Abuelita, Uelita, Tita, Abby, Abbi, Lita
Swedish
Paternal – FarMor
Maternal – MorMor
Swiss
Grossmami
Syrian
Teta, Jadda
Tamil
Pathi
Thai
Paternal – Ya
Maternal – Yai
Turkish
Buyuk Anne
Anneanne
Babanne
Turkmen
Ene
Ukranian
Formal – Babusia
Informal – Baba
Uzbek
Bibi
Vietnamese
Formal – Danh tá
Informal – Ba, Bé già
Welsh
Southern – Mamgu
Northern – Naini, Nain
Yiddish
Bubby
Bubbe
for grandmothers:
Traditional | Trendy | Playful | International | Celebrity
for grandfathers:
Traditional | Trendy | Playful | International | Celebrity
