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Nan/Nana/Nanny

(65 Posts)
phoenix Thu 19-Apr-18 17:37:12

I had a Nan and a Grampy.

grannyactivist Thu 19-Apr-18 17:35:46

My mum's mum was nana and my my own mum chose also to be nana to all of her grandchildren - I am Granny to all of mine.

Grandma70s Thu 19-Apr-18 17:27:27

Yes, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan. He’s a nursemaid to the children! Nannies in the nursemaid sense were only in books to me, but I rather fancied having one when I was. child. However, they are quite common now, at least in London, and by no means only in the upper classes.

I

Anniebach Thu 19-Apr-18 17:25:20

I am Granny, my grandfather was Grampa, my grandmothers died before I was born. My Mother called hers Granny and Gransha.

cornishclio Thu 19-Apr-18 17:23:26

We always had a Nan or nanny. I am a nanny now.

paddyann Thu 19-Apr-18 17:18:41

I had only one living granny but when we talked about the other she was granny as well and grandpa was my mums late dad.I'm granny to my 4 and OH is Papa (west of Scotland) they have great grans too and they are great grandma and nana ...that was nana's choice.I dont remember any one having a nanny or nana either in fact when we said my MIL wanted to be called nana by the GGcmy late mum said but isn't that the dog in Peter Pan .Must be an engish thing

NanaandGrampy Thu 19-Apr-18 17:17:39

My girls called my Mum Nana, and I called my grandmother Nana. It was commonplace in London when I was a child.

kittylester Thu 19-Apr-18 17:13:19

I had a nanna and a poppa and a granny and grandpa.

My children had and Anna (DS1 got confused and it stuck) and a pop and a grandma and a grandpa.

BlueBelle Thu 19-Apr-18 17:09:22

A grandma it very posh and quaintly old fashioned no one I knew had grandmas all my friends had nanny’s like me Nanny as a child minder only happened in the upper class circles not working class

BlueBelle Thu 19-Apr-18 17:07:16

I had a Nanny then Nan as I got older 73 years ago so it’s definately not new

MawBroon Thu 19-Apr-18 17:06:22

In Scotland in my childhood “Pappa” was common for Grandpa. But other than that we always said Granny.

nanaK54 Thu 19-Apr-18 17:03:38

Actually think 'Nan' has been around for years......sure some of my age group had 'nans' mine died before I was born so no chance for me to experience that

nanaK54 Thu 19-Apr-18 17:02:00

as they do

nanaK54 Thu 19-Apr-18 17:01:22

I am a 'nana' my choice smile, our grandchildren don't need to add my name a they do with granny Yvonne, granny Pat, granddad Des etc. etc.

Grandma70s Thu 19-Apr-18 16:58:03

When did these names for grandparents start to be widely used? I never heard them until I grew up, and I still find them a bit puzzling. Grandma, Granny and Grandmother are the words familiar to me. I had a granny and a grandma, and so do my grandchildren (I’m Grandma). A nanny is a person who is employed to look after children at home, or so I always thought.

What's the male equivalent?