120 Grandpa Names, From Global Titles to Tough-Guy Nicknames

48 Traditional Names for Grandpa

These are the inherited titles, the word his own family used or the one your children will grow up hearing. Several of them draw a line between a paternal and a maternal grandfather, so check which side you are naming before you commit.

1. Abuelito – Spanish for little grandfather, a diminutive that trades formality for warmth. It suits the grandpa who gets hugged before he gets greeted.
2. Afi – The standard Icelandic word for grandfather, short enough that a toddler nails it on the first try. As a U.S. given name it last appeared in the records in 1980.
3. Ah Gong – A warm, rhythmic Chinese term for grandfather.
4. Ataahua – A Māori term that translates to beautiful or pleasant, sometimes used honorifically. It reads as a compliment more than a title.
5. Athair Críonna – A formal Irish Gaelic phrase meaning wise father. It fits the grandfather whose word settles the argument.
6. Dedushka – The Russian word for grandfather, usually shortened to Deda once the grandchildren start talking.
7. Dada Jaan – An Urdu title used specifically for a paternal grandfather. It is formal enough for introductions and soft enough for every day.
8. Daideó – An Irish Gaelic term that sounds close to daddy, which is why small children pick it up so quickly.
9. Dede – The Turkish title for a grandfather who passes down cultural values. As a U.S. given name it charted as recently as 2022.
10. Dziadzia – A Polish term for the grandpa who arrives carrying traditions and stories. It takes young mouths a few tries, which is half the charm.
11. Dziadzio – An alternative Polish spelling common in Polish-American families. It comes in handy when relatives on each side spell it differently.
12. Farfar – The Swedish distinction for a father’s father, so the two grandfathers never get mixed up.
13. Gramps – A classic, playful nickname for a grandpa with a mischievous streak, easy to shout across a yard when the game gets going.
14. Granda – A friendly, casual version used widely in Scotland and Ireland, sitting halfway between grandad and grandpa.
15. Grandad – An endearing, common term for a respected family figure, plain enough for a birthday card or a text message.
16. Grandpa – The timeless English title, still the default in most American families and the safest landing spot when nobody can agree.
17. Grandpappy – A traditional, folksy title often heard in the Southern US. It carries a front-porch cadence built right in.
18. Grandpaw – A down-to-earth spelling that softens the whole word, suited to a grandpa who never stood on ceremony.
19. Grand-père – The formal French word for grandfather. It suits a distinguished patriarch who likes the full version of things.
20. Grandpop – A lively name for the grandpa who raises the volume of a family gathering the moment he walks in.
21. Grossvater – The German word for grandfather, formal and full of weight, better suited to a card than shouted across the kitchen.
22. Gunga – A warm term for a wise elder who collects and shares stories, distinctive without being hard to say.
23. Gung Gung – The Cantonese term specifically for a maternal grandfather. It has a rhythm babies latch onto early.
24. Halabeoji – The formal Korean word for grandfather, carrying respect in every syllable.
25. Haraboji – An alternative romanization of the Korean term, and the spelling many Korean-American families settle on.
26. Jido – An Arabic title for a patriarch with a firm moral code. Short, steady, and easy to say at any age.
27. Kakek – The Indonesian word for the grandfather in the advice-giving role.
28. Koroua – A Māori term for an elderly man or grandfather. It carries a dignified, unhurried feel.
29. Lao ye – The Mandarin Chinese title for a maternal grandfather, which keeps the two sides of the family clearly labeled.
30. L’avi – The Catalan word for grandfather, brief and simple to pair with a Catalan grandmother name.
31. Lolo – The primary term for grandpa in the Philippines, and one of the friendliest sounds on this list. It last surfaced in U.S. baby-name records back in 1923.
32. Morfar – The Swedish distinction for a mother’s father, the natural partner to Farfar.
33. Nene – A soft, affectionate name for a beloved elder, chosen for its calming sound. It still charts as a U.S. given name, ranking #10,679 in 2025.
34. Ojiisan – The Japanese word for a grandfather or an older gentleman, formal enough for company.
35. Opa – A popular German and Dutch nickname, two syllables a one-year-old can manage, which is why it spreads through a family fast.
36. Opappi – An affectionate Italian-American variation blending Opa and Papi. It suits households with more than one heritage in the mix.
37. Papi – A term of endearment for fathers and grandfathers across Latin cultures. It entered U.S. baby-name records for the first time in 2023.
38. Pappou – The Greek word for grandfather, thick with tradition and best said with some feeling behind it.
39. Pappous – A variation of the Greek title, the fuller spelling some families prefer.
40. Pop – Short, punchy, and used casually across English-speaking families. It works from toddlerhood through adulthood without ever sounding wrong.
41. Saba – The Hebrew word for grandpa, common in Jewish families. As a U.S. given name it ranked #4,967 in 2025, well off its best showing of #2,410 in 1986.
42. Seanathair – The literal Gaelic translation of old father. Formal, and rarely shortened.
43. Seedo – An Arabic term for grandpa heard in Levantine dialects, warm and entirely everyday.
44. Tipuna – A Māori variation referring to an ancestor or grandparent. It suits reverence more than it suits roughhousing.
45. Tupuna – The Māori word for an elder connected to ancestral knowledge, a title with real weight behind it.
46. Wai gong – The Mandarin term for a maternal grandfather. It is clear about which side of the family he stands on.
47. Wai zu fu – A more formal Mandarin title for a maternal grandfather, used where the respect needs to be explicit.
48. Zaydeh – A Yiddish term that treats the grandfather’s role as something cherished rather than merely inherited. Families who use it often pass it down the same way they pass down the stories.
49. Zu fu – The formal Mandarin term for a paternal grandfather. Precise, and traditional.

40 Cute Grandpa Names

For the grandfather who spoils first and asks questions later. These are the soft, silly, easy-to-say picks, and most of them get invented by a grandchild long before an adult suggests them.

1. Abba – It means father in Hebrew, and plenty of grandkids borrow it for grandpa anyway. It ranked #7,194 as a U.S. given name in 2025, its highest placement yet.
2. Bubba – A Southern staple for the easy-going grandpa. It is the rarest currently charting name here in Social Security Administration data, at #12,341 in 2025, or roughly one baby in 333,000.
3. Bubby – An affectionate nickname often used in Jewish families, soft and unhurried. It has not charted as a U.S. given name since 1969.
4. Buddy – The pick for a grandpa who behaves more like a best friend. It is still a working given name too, at #4,418 in 2025.
5. Dada – In Hindi this refers specifically to a paternal grandfather, though English-speaking relatives will hear a baby’s first word.
6. Dandy – A charming title for a well-dressed elder with a sense of occasion. It last appeared in U.S. baby-name records in 2014.
7. Dodo – A quirky nickname for the grandpa whose humor runs to the absurd. It rarely needs an explanation once you have met him.
8. Doodle – A whimsical name for the creative or artistic grandfather, and an easy one for small children to say.
9. Gamps – A shortened, toddler-friendly version of Gramps that usually begins life as a mispronunciation and sticks.
10. Gee-Gee – A doubled letter G, which is about as easy as a name gets for a child still working on consonants.
11. Gong Gong – A cute iteration of the Chinese term for a maternal grandpa. It has a rhythm babies repeat happily.
12. G-Daddy – A modern mix of grandpa and daddy for the grandfather who is not ready to sound old.
13. Grandy – Suited to a grand man his grandchildren adore. It is also short enough to survive into their teenage years.
14. Grandykins – A sugary extension of Grandy, best deployed by the youngest grandchild and nobody else.
15. Gumpy – A playful tease for the grandpa who pretends to be grumpy. He fools absolutely no one.
16. Jellybean – For the grandpa who turns up with sweets in his pockets.
17. Jiji – The affectionate short form of Ojiisan in Japanese. It is quick and familiar.
18. Kip – A youthful handle for an active grandfather. It peaked at #379 in 1965 and sits at #1,626 in 2025.
19. Koro – The affectionate short form of the Māori word Koroua, warm and quick to say.
20. Nana – In Hindi this names a maternal grandpa, which surprises English speakers who expect a grandmother. It ranked #7,045 as a U.S. given name in 2025.
21. Nonno – The Italian classic, bound up with family, food, and long Sunday tables.
22. Oupa – The Afrikaans word for grandpa, close-knit and thoroughly everyday.
23. Pa – Simple, classic, and about as close as a title gets. As a U.S. given name it has not charted since 2006.
24. Pappy – A rustic title used for fathers and grandpas alike. It carries a worn-in feel.
25. Paw – A shortened PawPaw with Southern charm. As a given name it last charted in 2024.
26. Pawpaw – A sweet, repetitive name babies find easy to say, and popular in the South.
27. Peepaw – A Southern favorite for a beloved elder. It sounds unmistakably affectionate.
28. Pépé – The affectionate French term for grandpa, short for Papy, with a soft, gentle sound.
29. Popcorn – For the grandpa who runs movie night and guards the snacks. It is the nickname that sticks after enough Friday nights together.
30. Poppie – The Dutch diminutive for a playful grandfather. It still charts in the U.S., at #6,494 in 2025.
31. Pop-Pop – A classic American nickname, familiar from television.
32. Popsi – A cutesy variation that adds a little sweetness to Pops.
33. Popsicle – A humorous extension of Pops for a grandpa with a cool streak. It is a guaranteed laugh from a four-year-old.
34. Shanti – Sanskrit for peace, fitting for the calm, unhurried grandfather. Its U.S. use is down about half on the previous decade of births, the steepest fall of any name here, landing at #9,373 in 2025.
35. Snickerdoodle – For the grandpa who is as agreeable as a cinnamon cookie.
36. Snickers – A catchy nickname for a grandpa who laughs easily. It also suits one who eats candy openly.
37. Sofu – The formal Japanese term for one’s own grandfather, used when precision matters.
38. Vovô – The Portuguese word for grandpa. It is often shortened to just Vô at home.
39. Yéyé – A common, informal Chinese name for a paternal grandfather, doubled and easy to chant.

32 Badass Nicknames for Grandpa

For the grandpa with grit, a motorcycle, or a service record behind him. Several of these double as real given names, which is why current U.S. birth rankings sit beside them.

1. Ace – For the grandpa who is a master of his field and a pro at life. It is a genuinely popular U.S. given name now, ranking #164 in 2025.
2. Bear – Big, strong, protective, and reliably good for hugs. It has moved into regular use as a given name too, at #853 in 2025.
3. Big Daddy – For the grandpa with the large personality who fills a room before he sits down. The nickname usually arrives before he has said a single word.
4. Boppa – A punchy twist on the standard Papa that toddlers tend to invent on their own.
5. Buzz – An energetic handle for the grandpa who never sits still. It ranked #9,867 as a U.S. given name in 2025.
6. Captain – Made for a natural leader or a boating enthusiast, and it doubles as a title the grandkids can salute, currently ranked #5,242 in 2025.
7. Gaffer – British slang for a boss or foreman. It tells everybody exactly who runs the show.
8. G-pa – A clipped abbreviation with a bit of swagger to it.
9. G-Pop – A modern twist for grandfathers who keep up with whatever the grandkids are listening to.
10. Grampster – Grandpa crossed with hipster, for the elder with better sneakers than his own son.
11. Grampy – A friendly, approachable variation that still sounds masculine, and an easy early word.
12. Grandmister – A rare, semi-formal title for a distinguished gentleman.
13. Grand Sire – Regal and dignified, like the head of a dynasty. Best for a grandpa who enjoys the joke.
14. Grizzle – An affectionate nickname for the grandpa with a beard or a gravelly voice.
15. Gunner – Bravery and precision in two syllables, and a natural for military veterans. It ranked #506 as a U.S. given name in 2025.
16. Hawk – For the grandfather who sees everything and watches over the whole flock. It sat at #5,099 in 2025.
17. Ironman – Strong, enduring, and practically unbreakable, which is how the grandkids describe him anyway.
18. Maverick – For the independent grandpa who does things his own way. It is the most popular name on this list in Social Security Administration data, at #49 in 2025, and the only one inside the top 100.
19. Old Chap – A cheeky British-style nickname for your favorite guy.
20. Papa Cool – A trendy choice that lets everyone know he has not lost his edge.
21. Paps – Short, slangy, and easy-going, the sort of name that starts as a joke and then stays.
22. P-Daddy – A slightly ridiculous option for a grandpa who can take it.
23. Popper – Energetic and fun, for the grandpa who is always in motion.
24. Poppit – A distinct Cajun-style name for someone who stands out.
25. Pops – The casual standard for the patriarch of the family, and it works from toddler years straight through adulthood.
26. Rambo – For the grandpa who is tough as nails and quotes action movies at dinner. It still charts as a U.S. given name, at #11,687 in 2025.
27. Ranger – Evokes the outdoors, self-reliance, and a truck that smells faintly of campfire. It ranked #1,582 in 2025.
28. Sarge – Ideal for the disciplined grandpa who keeps the kids in line without raising his voice.
29. Skip – A carefree name, often used for a captain or a team leader. It charted at #6,747 in 2025.
30. Tank – For the big, tough grandfather built like a linebacker. It ranked #8,177 in 2025.
31. Zeus – A powerful name for the father of the gods, and of the family. It has become a real given name in the U.S., at #1,351 in 2025.
32. Zayde – A Yiddish classic that commands respect and love in equal measure. It ranked #3,581 in 2025, down from its 2024 best of #2,713.