Grandmas are the best! And, giving them a badass name shows you really love them while recognizing they’re unique and special. If your grandma is someone you treasure and admire while still loving her crazy, kickass attitude, she deserves to be given one of those badass grandma names!
I’ve done the research for you and have found 221 names you can pick from! I’ve also included some names used in other languages, such as Hungarian, an exotic language I speak, PLUS common nicknames used by grandkids when with granny. Check them out and find one that fits your coolest grammy.
221 Badass Grandma Names
- Nona
- Memaw
- Coco
- Old Bat
- Bibi
- Bubbie
- Gram Cracker
- Mimzy
- MooMaw
- Toots
- Gigi
- Tutu
- The Matriarch
- Bubba
- Abuela
- Gigi
- Grand Dame
- Zaza
- Babushka
- G-Ma
- Mima
- Ayeeyo
- Karma
- Fantasia
- Venus
- Jub-Jubs
- Maxi-Gram
- Maxi-Ma
- Gamma
- Sassy
- Battista
- Aphrodite
- Tempest
- Kumani
- Wanda
- Glamma
- Gab-Gab
- Zaza
- Nanz
- Genie
- Vega
- Nonna
- Queenie
- Shazza
- Kuku
- Tootsie
- Mimi
- Gams
- G-Bomb
- Yaya
- Gam-Mora
- Marvel
- Davina
- Godiva
- Buffy
- Vespa
- Cha-Cha
- Nan-Noo
- Noonie
- Moomins
- G
- Amma
- Bebe
- Amba
- Hempstock
- Gramcy
- Ga Ga
- Big Momma
- Grand Momma
- Zannie
- Thatcher
- Insta-Gram
- Golden Girl
- Gogo
- Aba Daba
- Vivie
- Kikie
- Bama
- Tootles
- Babi
- Grand Dolly
- Nonina
- Jemmie
- PopMa
- Glamster
- Mims
- Mumsie
- Grandma Goo
- Gram Gram
- Mamu
- DeeDee
- FooFoo
- GinGin
- Nanee
- Lolly
- RaRa
- Dammy
- Mi Nina
- Rizz
- Wangy
- Lita
- Po Po
- Grandmere
- Nanang
- Lola
- Foxy
- Bella
- LaLa
- Goldy
- Abba
- BeBe
- Sassy
- CiCi
- Sirena
- Mia
- Hera
- Athena
- Lexis
- Marie
- Vixen
- Xena
- Mojo
- Giggy
- Nina
- Zsa-Zsa
- Layla
- Buffy
- Senela
- Valkyrie
- Fallon
- Galaxy
- Exodus
- Rexana
- Dola
- Fantasia
- Damara
- Velora
- Asha
- Genesis
- Minka
- Oya
- Zuna
- Pandora
- Cher
- Villian
- Aurora
- MoonPie
- Beatrix
- Mollie
- Heda
- Indigo
- Reign
- Yola
- Exie
- Mona
- Elektra
- Gracie
- Jarah
- Alexia
- Granny Queen Bee
- Queen Bee
- Lady
- Dextera
- Rowdy
- Moxie
- Onyx
- Raven
- Aria
- Ara
- Calypso
- Vixen
- Cassandra
- Storm
- Luna
- Fig
- Fee
- Ripley
- Roxanne
- Blade
- Jinx
If you want to call her in another language
- Mémé – French
- Gumbu – Dyirbal (Australia)
- Nne Nne – Igbo (Nigeria)
- Nai Nai – Mandarin
- Ouma – Afrikaans (South Africa)
- Naani – Hindi
- Giagiá – Greek
- Omi – German
- Nonna – Italian
- Kuia – Maori (New Zealand)
- Babcia – Polish
- Maw Maw – Cajun French (Louisiana, USA)
- Avó – Portuguese
- Lola – Tagalog (Philippines)
- Mhamó – Irish
- Savta – Hebrew
- Nagymama – Hungarian
- Bubbe – Yiddish
- Mormor – Danish
- Bibi – Swahili
- Buvi – Uzbek (Uzbekistan)
- Baje – Nepali
- O baachan – Japanese
- Vanaeman – Estonian
- Baka – Croatian
- Kuku wahine – Hawaiian
- Halmeoni – Korean
- Nenek – Malay
- Mamie – French Canadian
- Avia – Catalan (Spain)
- Mam-gu – Welsh
- Madar Bozorg – Farsi
- Teta – Egyptian Arabic
- Baba – Serbian
- Bomma – Flemish
- Bunica – Romanian
- Yeay – Khmer (Cambodia)
- Tatik – Armenian
- Bommi – Flanders
- Wai Po – Chinese
- Bestemoeder – Danish
Not sure how to pronounce grandmother in other languages? Watch this video to find out the correct pronunciation and decide if any of them would suit your kickass gran!
Why you might be looking for a badass name for your grandma
For a long time, grandmothers were associated with purple, permed hair, prim clothing, baked cookies, and sweetness. This image may not have always been a true representation of what your grandma was really like “behind the scenes” but society dictated this for older ladies.
Nowadays, grandmas have come a long way and aren’t expected to fit into the conventional “granny” box. There are kickass grandmas, kind grannies, and gentle nanas. Whatever their character, grandmas deserve to be recognized by their grandkids for their uniqueness. Here are some good reasons why you might be looking for a badass name for your grandma.
1. She’s tough and emotionally strong
This kind of grandma doesn’t give up when life throws her a spanner or two! She believes in taking life’s knocks in her stride and wants you to do the same. Her husband may have left her, she’s lost many beloved pets, or a bad economy forced her to find ways of making her own money. But, she’s never given up.
This type of grandma wants you to be tough too because life happens and she wants you to be as emotionally strong as she is so you can keep on keeping on! Tough grandmas would love to be called The Matriarch or Thatcher.
2. She’s a rock and roller
Who would think our own grandmothers once loved heavy metal, rock n” roll, or spent weekends dancing away at the local disco? And, if she’s still as wild as she was in her youth, you’ll still find your badass grandma doing the moves at a nightclub in the neighborhood.
Surely your rock and rolling grandma deserves a name that describes her love for funky music and dance moves? Think Foxy or LaLa here!
3. She’s an activist
A granny who has always stood up for the rights of others deserves a kickass name. This special person in your life believes in protecting the rights of children, other women, taking care of the environment, or speaking up for those who don’t feel they have a voice.
This type of grandma deserves a sassy name, showing your respect and admiration for her courage to be an activist. Grand Momma, Maxi-Gram, or Tutu would suit a grandmother who believes in civil rights.
4. She’s honest and outspoken
Your grandmother believes in speaking her truth always. She’s outspoken and honest at the same time. Admirable traits that should be recognized and honored even if at times she doesn’t put any “filter” on what she’s saying and it makes you cringe! With age, comes wisdom, and grans who understand this know that people-pleasing often leads to more trouble than it’s worth.
Being truthful from the beginning while being compassionate is a skill you could learn from your badass gran. Your name for her should also describe her to the key – how about Old Bat, Grand Mama, or Queenie?
5. She’s fiercely independent
Some grandmothers are fiercely independent and have never relied on anyone else, even a man, to provide for them. These feisty grandmas can pay their own bills, plan their own exotic holidays, and know what’s best for them, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. She doesn’t let fashion dictate how she should dress nor does she care if people frown when she chooses to stay on her own instead of moving into an old age home.
This kind of grandmother also loves to have a name that’s beyond the conventional “gran!” How about Grandmere, G-Ma, or simply G?
Common nicknames for a grandma
Here are some common nicknames that could be used to tell others you have the coolest grandma around!
- BeBe
- BunBun
- GabGab
- Grancie
- Meemz
- Birdy
- Jiggy-Ma
- Punky
- Nonny
- Nanza
Are you looking for a cute or unique nickname for your badass step-grandma? My article listing many names for a step-grandma should give you some great ideas!
Final Thoughts
Grace Gegenheimer once said, ‘I carry within me the heart of a warrior, the mind of a pharaoh, the soul of a goddess, and the wisdom of my grandmothers’ grandmothers.” Your badass grandma carries all of this within her to share with you. She’s someone who isn’t only your granny, nana, or grandma but she’s so cool that she deserves to have her own special name!
While you are at it, give your Pops a special name too by using my list of great names for a step grandpa that are cool and unique!
