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Grandparents: A glossary represents the results of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Advocate asking its readers what unusual names grandmas and grandpas are called. Janu, Honey, Gam, Gigi, Gaga, and many, many more.
That is such an adorable and interesting link - thank you for posting!
When I first read the question, I immediately thought to the various names that I call my grandparents. After reading the variations, I realized that I, too, had called my paternal grandfather by a different name (than his intended 'title') because I couldn't pronounce "yeh-yeh." I ended up calling him "yah-yah" until I turned 1, during which I somehow made the transition to "yeh."
An ex boyfriend of mine called his maternal grandmother "noonie," which I thought was absolutely precious.
The names for Grandparents are laden with class overtones here in the U.K.
Nanna, nanny and nan for a grandmother are very common but do not denote high social status.
We also use Pop for a grandad as do the Australians and New Zealanders.
Here Grandma and Granddad are fairly class neutral.
The push for differing names comes partly from the need to differentiate between the two familial sets of grand parents [mum's parents and dad's parents]. I know of a Boo-Boo which was coined from the Russian Baboushka.
As for my grandparents, we were very plain.
However, as a new grandfather, I was waiting to see how things would develop along these lines. I am a stepfather who helped to raise the boys, and I was reluctant to presume the official title. When my first grandchild was in the babbling stage, long before he was able to speak, we were taking turns prodding him, "Say 'mama,'" "Say 'papa,'" "Say 'grandma.'" When it was my turn, by chance I got a babbling response that sounded like "oom-pa," and I claimed victory. Now "Oompa" has stuck, and I'm very pleased.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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