The first word a grandchild uses for you will stick for life, so the choice deserves more thought than most men give it. Grandpa names range from classic and formal to playful, modern, and rooted in a family’s own language.
My siblings and I called our grandfather Papa Ukwu, which means big father in Igbo, the language of my hometown.
Papa Ukwu is common where I come from, and so is Big Dad, while Nna Nna, the Igbo word for grandfather, is also popular.
My own father’s grandchildren simply called him Grandpa, and the name suited him just as well.
The grandpa names below are grouped as classic, modern, and cultural, with tips for picking one that fits you.
Table of Contents
How families usually settle on a name
Many grandfathers pick a name before the birth, but the grandchild usually has the final say once the baby starts talking.
That is because babies form the same easy sounds first, as linguist Valerie Fridland explains in Psychology Today.
Sounds made with p, b, and d come early, which is why Papa, Baba, and Dada appear in so many languages.
Today’s grandfathers are also younger than many people assume, since AARP research found that 50 is the average age of becoming a first-time grandparent.
The same study found that grandparents have four to five grandchildren on average, so a name gets said thousands of times.
With about 65 million grandparents in the United States, according to AARP, plenty of men are weighing the same choice.
Classic grandpa names
Classic names feel warm and familiar, and older relatives understand them at once.
- Grandpa: the most widely used choice in American English, simple for small children to say.
- Granddad or Grandad: common in Britain, Ireland, Australia, and parts of the American South.
- Grandfather: formal and dignified, though most families shorten it with time and use.
- Gramps: friendly and a little playful, a long-time favorite for relaxed, easygoing grandfathers.
- Pop or Pops: short, cheerful, and easy for toddlers to shout across a room.
- Papa or Pappy: gentle and affectionate, and close to the sounds babies make first.
- Grandpop or Pop-Pop: popular in the northeastern United States and fun for young voices.
Modern and playful grandpa names
Younger grandfathers sometimes prefer a name that feels lighter than the word their own grandfather used.
- G-Pa or Gpa: a quick, modern spin on the classic word that texts nicely too.
- Grandy: soft and friendly, and easy for little ones to pronounce from an early age.
- Big Dad or Big Papa: warm names that mark the head of the family.
- Captain, Coach, or Doc: names drawn from a hobby, a job, or a long-standing family nickname.
- Your first name plus Pa: such as Joe-Pa or Tom-Pa, which helps when several grandfathers share one family.
Grandpa names from around the world
Cultural names keep a family’s language alive and connect grandchildren to the place their elders came from.
African names
In Igbo, Papa Ukwu means big father, and Nna Nna means grandfather, and both are widely used in my hometown.
Big Dad is also common there, as an English-language version of the same idea.
In Swahili, spoken across East Africa, the word for grandfather is Babu.
European names
Italian families use Nonno, while German and Dutch grandchildren usually call their grandfather Opa.
French grandchildren choose between Grand-père, Papi, and Pépé, and Spanish speakers say Abuelo or the tender Abuelito.
Portuguese speakers use Avô or Vovô, Greek families say Pappous or Papou, and Polish grandchildren call him Dziadek.
In Wales, Taid is common in the north and Tad-cu in the south, while Irish speakers use Daideó.
Asian and Pacific names
In Mandarin, Yeye means a father’s father and Waigong means a mother’s father, so the name shows family lines.
Hindi speakers make the same split, using Dada for the paternal grandfather and Nana for the maternal one.
Filipino grandchildren say Lolo, Japanese grandchildren say Ojiisan or Jiji, and Korean grandchildren say Harabeoji.
In Hawaiian, Tūtū kāne is a loving name that grandchildren use for a grandfather.
Middle Eastern names
Hebrew speakers call a grandfather Saba, and many Arabic-speaking families use Jiddo or Jaddi.
Quick reference table of cultural names
This table gathers popular grandpa names by language, so you can compare them side by side.
| Language or region | Name for grandfather |
|---|---|
| Igbo | Papa Ukwu, Nna Nna |
| Swahili | Babu |
| Italian | Nonno |
| German and Dutch | Opa |
| French | Grand-père, Papi, Pépé |
| Spanish | Abuelo, Abuelito |
| Portuguese | Avô, Vovô |
| Greek | Pappous, Papou |
| Welsh | Taid, Tad-cu |
| Mandarin | Yeye, Waigong |
| Hindi | Dada, Nana |
| Filipino | Lolo |
| Japanese | Ojiisan, Jiji |
| Hebrew | Saba |
| Arabic | Jiddo, Jaddi |
How to choose your grandpa’s name
- Talk with the parents first, so your choice does not clash with what the other grandfather wants.
- Say the name aloud many times, because you will hear it daily for decades.
- Pick something a toddler can pronounce, or expect the child to change it for you.
- Consider a family or cultural name that carries meaning, the way Papa Ukwu does in my family.
- Stay relaxed if the grandchild invents a new name, since those names are usually the ones that last.
Agreeing on names is one of many moments for respecting the parents’ wishes as a new grandfather.
It also helps to keep things smooth with a daughter-in-law, since she may have strong views on names.
In blended families, a fresh name can help when bonding with step-grandchildren for the first time.
Once the name is settled, turn to growing into the grandfather role and the habits that matter most.
If the grandchildren live far away, these ideas for staying close to faraway grandchildren keep your new name in daily use.
Then plan some fun days with the grandkids so the name gets heard again and again in happy moments.
If you are celebrating a recent arrival, here are gifts for a new grandfather to mark the occasion.
There is more on the original Papa Ukwu and his palm wine trade in my author biography.
Conclusion
The best grandpa names are easy to say, meaningful to your family, and comfortable to hear every day for decades.
Classic choices like Grandpa and Pops sit beside cultural names such as Papa Ukwu, Nna Nna, Nonno, Opa, and Lolo.
With first-time grandfathers averaging 50 and having four to five grandchildren, the name you choose will be repeated countless times.
Talk it over with the parents, say it aloud, and enjoy every new chapter with Older Men’s Life beside you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common name for a grandfather?
Grandpa is the most widely used choice in American English, while Granddad is more common in Britain, Ireland, and Australia.
Can grandpa change his name later?
He can try, but grandchildren usually keep the first name that sticks, so it helps to settle on one before the baby starts talking.
What do you call a grandfather in Igbo?
Igbo families say Nna Nna for grandfather, and Papa Ukwu, meaning big father, is also widely used in many towns.
What should a younger grandfather be called?
Younger grandfathers tend to prefer lighter options such as Pops, G-Pa, or their first name plus Pa, which feel less formal than Grandfather.