My daughter is having a baby. The baby will call my mum (its greatgrandmother) “Nanny.” The baby will call my daughter’s mother-in-law Granny. My name is Lilbet and I want to be called something other than grandma since I’m 39. Can you suggest something, please?

Thanks!

Dear Friend,

Your grandchild and you will figure out a name to use together. You are wise to start thinking about it now, because you will come up with a name that is acceptable to you. The name doesn’t really matter to the child as long as you foster that relationship. Here’s my suggestion. How about starting with the name Lili? Because Ls are hard for kids to say and I can see that turning into a sweet pet name for you, like yeeyee.

Enjoy that child!
Grandma Maggie

Old woman smiling

Peggy Moss (she/her), AKA "Grandma Maggie," was was a partner in BabyNames.com after she retired as an early childhood educator. Her Q&A column "Ask Grandma Maggie" is now republished with the best of Grandma Maggie’s parenting and childcare advice. She has written many eBooks about parenting issues, available at Amazon.com.

Peggy, who passed in 2014, was mother to Sue, Kate, Jennifer, and Mallory Moss, and grandmother to Ike, Peter, Miranda, and Veronica.