Becoming a grandparent is an exciting milestone, and it makes sense that some grandpas-to-be want to mark this event with a unique grandpa name.
If your baby is the first grandchild in the family, there's no better time than now to settle on what the newest generation will call grandpa once they start talking.
There's nothing wrong with sticking with Grandpa, but with so many playful and unique nicknames to choose from, you might find one that feels like a better fit. And if there's more than one grandpa in the family, a less traditional name is a great way to set each one apart.
But before you decide on the name, there's one more choice to make: Who decides on Grandpa's nickname? That's up to you to decide – you could let your dad pick his nickname, decide it yourself, or let your baby pick it once they're old enough to talk.
As expecting parents, we know you have plenty of decisions to make over the coming weeks, months, and years. We hope to make this one a little easier for you by putting together a list of names for Grandpa, covering cultural names, traditional names, and some that are just as unique as Grandpa!
The top 9 grandpa names
- Grandpa
- Granddad
- Gramps
- Papa
- Pappy
- Papaw
- Pop
- Pop-Pop
- Poppy
25 grandpa names in other languages
You can honor your baby's heritage by borrowing a grandparent name from your ancestors' language. Many cultural names translate well into English, and some are easy enough to spell and pronounce.
Plus, choosing a grandparent name inspired by your elder relatives' backgrounds is a great way to honor them with the newest generation. They're sure to feel special.
- Abi (Spanish, short for abuelo)
- Abuelo (Spanish)
- Akina (Sudanese)
- Avo (Portuguese)
- Baba (Persian)
- Babu (Swahili)
- Daada (Hindi, paternal side)
- Dede (Turkish)
- Farfar (Swedish, paternal side)
- Grand-pere (French)
- Laoye (Mandarin, maternal side)
- Lolo (Filipino)
- Morfar (Swedish, maternal side)
- Nana (Hindi, maternal side)
- Nonno (Italian)
- Papou (Greek)
- Pepe (French)
- Opa (German)
- Oupa (Afrikaans)
- Taid (Welsh)
- Tito (Mexican Spanish)
- Sabba (Hebrew)
- Seanair (Scottish Gaelic)
- Yeye (Mandarin, paternal side)
- Zayde (Yiddish)
21 cool grandpa names
- Ace
- Big Daddy
- Boss
- Bop
- Buster
- Daddio
- Doc
- Duke
- Captain
- Coach
- Geez
- G-dog
- Gramps
- Grand Bear
- Granddude
- Grumps
- Papzie
- Pop-daddy
- Popsicle
- Rocky
- Skip
21 other nicknames for grandpa
- Ampa
- Bebop
- Big Dawg
- Bubba
- Bumpy
- Dido
- Fafa
- Gampy
- Graddy
- Grampy
- Jaja
- Jimbo
- Koko
- Major
- Nanu
- Opapa
- Pampoo
- Popper
- Popo
- Pow
- Professor
13 gender-neutral grandparent names
Consider these gender-neutral names for grandparents if you have a nonbinary grandparent or they're a member of the LGBTQ+ community – or if you're just looking to use more inclusive language in your family.
- Baba
- Bibi
- Heart
- Honey
- Hugs
- Gramby
- Grandcestor
- Grandy
- Grandwa
- Nini
- Panda
- Punky
- Zippy
How to choose a grandpa name
When grandpa chooses his own name
In many families, the grandpa takes on the task of deciding what his new grandchild will call him.
Letting Grandpa choose a name for himself is a great way to celebrate him and help him prepare for his new role. And, with so much on your plate, leaving this decision up to him may feel like a gift to everyone involved!
In some families, the grandfather might be attached to a name already because it was passed down from older generations or evolved from nicknames he went by when he was a dad to young kids.
But you may want to reserve final veto power for yourself and your partner – just in case. Like one BabyCenter parent said: "My father-in-law said he wants to be called Pap, but I hate that. Reminds me of a Pap smear."
When you choose the grandpa name
While less common, there are a few reasons why you as the expecting parent might take charge of naming Grandpa. You might already have a name in mind, or know that your parents or in-laws aren't the best namers for the task. It's also possible the choice will be overwhelming or difficult for grandparents who would prefer your pick for them.
In blended families, parents deciding on the names may help prevent awkwardness or conflict between grandparents.
One BabyCenter mom says, "My kids call my husband's stepfather Murph, after his last name, Murphy. I think it's super cute and it eliminates any 'issues.'"
Being in charge of the grandparent names gives you an opportunity to carry on traditions from your own childhood. "My father is Gramf, since that's what we called my grandfather," says another mom.
When your child chooses the grandpa name
New language learning in a young child can be so fun and unpredictable. As your baby's babbling slowly morphs into discernible language , they may throw out unexpected and adorable nicknames for grandpa.
If letting the child choose their grandpa's name is what everyone would prefer, consider picking a placeholder name you can use until your toddler starts talking .
Some of the best grandpa names began as a name chosen by the parents or Grandpa that became something adorably unique when the baby made their first attempts at the name as a brand new word.
"My daughter decided to start calling her grandfather Pappy instead of Grandpap and he loves it!" one mom says.
We're big fans of choosing meaningful, endearing names for new grandparents. But we also know that, no matter who picks the name and what name they chose, it's their relationship that will be most important for both grandpa and grandchild.
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