Grandparents in Utah are Dropping the Silly Names

Grandparents Are Going Back to the Familiar

This is an updated article from last year. I had noted how grandparents were using different names than Grandma and Grandpa to be called by their grandchildren.  You can choose whatever you like to have your grandkids call you, as long as they play along and don’t decide to call you “dog” or “butt” or something. 

In a recent survey of 2,500 people, the most common names chosen were...grandma and grandpa. It did seem like things were getting kind of silly. Maybe as kids started getting older, it was easier just to go back to the standard.

What Do Utah Grandparents Choose?

The most popular alternate name in Utah after the standard is Grammie and Papa. I think that would be cute with a toddler, but having teens talking that way is goofy.

We may one day look back fondly on the time of alternate grandparent names as a phase. Here some of the names celebrities use. Kurt Russell is called Gogi by his progeny and Robert Wagner is Nono. Probably what he says when they start running around the Hollywood mansion.  

Read More: Are Utah Baby Names Actually Unique?

Martha Stewart is Martha, not that creative. Debbie Reynolds goes by Yaba Daba. Maybe her grandkid is Fred Flintstone. Goldie Hawn is Glam Ma, a good play on words. 

What do you think Alice Cooper’s grandkids call him? Maybe Creepy or Rock God? Nope, he is Pop Pop. Kind of a disappointment for the guy who changed his name to Alice. But then heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne is Papa to the grands. That’s even less impressive. 

I'm back in with the popular crowd again. I have stuck with grandpa from the beginning. I’m too traditional for some alternate name. It was hard to picture my grown-up grandkids calling me Bipoo or Whoopaw every time they saw me. Although, Legolas or Aragorn might have been alright.