55 Unique Grandfather Names to Consider (2024)

Just found out you’re about to become a grandfather? Congratulations! You’re probably already looking forward to cuddles, kisses and hearing them say your name for the first time. But before that special moment happens, you’ve got a big decision to make: what grandfather name will you go by? While “Grandpa” is always an option, these days many men are picking more unique grandfather names for their newest role in life. Need help brainstorming some ideas? Keep reading for some pretty cool grandfather names that fit every bill, whether you’re looking for something classic or totally original.

There are a few things to take into account before settling on your grandfather name. What moniker best fits your personality? Is there a family name you’d like to stick with? Possibly a regional favorite? Maybe you want a grandfather name from a different language to celebrate your family’s cultural heritage? Is there a grandfather name that would mesh particularly well with your partner’s name of choice? With so many considerations at your fingertips, remember: The best names for grandfather are often ones that hold a special meaning for you and your loved ones.

Another factor to take into account is baby’s pronunciation! What’s a name for grandfather that will be easy to say? Young children are well-known for putting their own adorable spin on common words, and it’s to be expected they’ll do the same with your grandfather name. They may even evolve it into a different name entirely. The bottom line? Don’t stress too much about it, and go with the name you’re most excited about and feel best suits your new role.

Some of the best names for grandfather can be tried-and-true classics. But even those titles that have been around for decades can easily be tweaked to align with your taste. For example, if you love “Grandpa” but are looking for ways to make it your own, you might change it to “Gramps” or even “Grampy.” Below, some traditional grandfather names worth considering.

The American South is known for having its own distinctive traditions—and that extends to grandparent names. Just as “Meemaw” is the most common grandmother name in the South, there are several popular options for southern grandfather names. Check out some of the most common ones and their variations below.

There’s something to be said for originality—and that extends to grandfather names. The trend is especially popular among celebrities: Lionel Richie goes by “G-Pa,” Martin Sheen goes by “Peach,” former president George W. Bush goes by “Jefe” and Cedric the Entertainer goes by “Popci.” When it comes to getting creative, the sky is truly the limit. If you’re looking for some cool grandfather names, peruse the choices below.

While searching for inspiration, you may look to other cultures. Each language has its own unique grandfather name, and sometimes even multiple based on whether the title refers to a maternal or paternal grandparent. Looking to honor your heritage or simply curious about cool grandfather names in other languages? Take a peek at the ones below.

-Afrikkans: In Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s official languages, the word for grandfather is “Oupa.”

-Arabic: Though Arabic has many different dialects, a common Arabic name for grandfather is “Jaddi.” In Palestine, grandfather is known as “Seedo.”

-Cantonese Chinese: In Cantonese, grandfather names are classified as paternal or maternal. The paternal grandfather is known as “Je Je” or “Ye Ye,” while the maternal grandfather is called “Gung Gung.”

-Creole: The Haitian Creole name for grandfather is “Gran-papa.”

-Filipino: In Filipino, the name for grandfather is “Lolo.”

-French: French grandfather names include “Grand-père,” “Grand-papa” and “Pépère.”

-German: The formal German grandfather name is “Grossvater” (or “Großvater”), but the informal version is “Opa.”

-Greek: In Greek, grandfathers are called “Pappous,” also spelled as “Papou.”

-Hawaiian: In Hawaiian, grandfathers are formally known as “Kupuna Kane,” but many Hawaiians use the informal “Tutu Kane.”

-Hebrew: The most common Jewish grandfather name in Hebrew is “Saba.”

-Hindi: In Hindi, the paternal grandfather is called “Dada” or “Baba” and the maternal grandfather is called “Nana.”

-Indonesian: The Indonesian word for grandfather is “Kakek.”

-Irish: In Gaelic, grandfather is “Seanathair,” which means “old father,” but other popular Irish grandfather names are “Daideó” and “Athair Críonna.” Most English-speaking children call their grandfathers “Grandad” or “Granda.”

-Italian: When it comes to Italian grandfather names, the most common is “Nonno.”

-Japanese: In Japanese, “Ojiisan,” is the name for grandfather, but it’s often shortened to “Jiji.” Informally, grandfathers can also be called “Sofu.”

-Korean: In Korean, grandfather is “Haraboji” or “Halabeoji.”

-Māori: Te reo Māori is the language spoken by the indigenous Eastern Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Māori name for grandfather is “Tupuna,” which means “grandparent” or “ancestor.” However, “Tipuna,” “Koroua” and “Koro” are also used.

-Mandarin Chinese: In Mandarin, the formal name for paternal grandfathers is “Zu fu,” while “Ye Ye” is also commonly used. The formal name for maternal grandfather is “Wai zu fu,” while “Lao ye” is also used in Northern China and “Wai gong” is used in Southern China.

-Polish: The Polish grandfather name is “Dziadek,” but variations include “Dziadzio” and “Dziadzia.” Other variations common in Polish-American culture are “Jaja” or “Jaji.”

-Russian: In Russian, grandfathers are known as “Dedushka.”

-Scottish: In Scottish Gaelic, the word for grandpa is “Seanair,” but other commonly used Scottish grandfather names include “Grandad” and “Grandpa.”

-Spanish: In Spanish, grandfathers are most commonly called “Abuelo” but can also be called “Abuelito” or “Tito.”

-Swahili: In Swahili, which is the official language of Tanzania and Kenya but widely spoken in other parts of Africa, the grandfather name is “Babu.”

-Yiddish: In Yiddish, grandfathers are known as “Zaide.” Common spelling variations include “Zayde” “Zaydeh” and “Zaydee.”

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