What Name Do Most People Call Their Beloved Grandparents in New England?

Being a grandparent is so special.  It's often better than being an actual parent.  Our parent's parents (you know, the ones who spoil you), are so dear to us, so let's take a minute to think about what nicknames we give them and why.

Nationally, the most popular names for grandparents are "Nana" and "Papa".

We can also break it down by states.  Specifically, New England states.  Oh come on, aren't you curious to know if your grandkids call you a popular name, or if your child is calling your parents a common or creative name?

Many people feel very close with their grandparents; closer than their parents, in fact. Preply.com reports that 49% of those surveyed would confide in their grandparents over their parents.  Incredibly, 34 states out of the 50 surveyed would rather spend time with their grandparents than parents.

Let's dive in.

The survey did exclude the usual "Grandma" and "Grandpa", and dug deeper into nicknames other than the two classic monikers.

New Hampshire seems to have a more casual attitude, with the most popular nicknames being "Gram" and "Papa".

Mainers go even more casual, with the ever-popular "Gram" and "Gramps" being the most popular grandparent nicknames.

Folks from Massachusetts call their grandparents something totally different than the rest of New England.  While "Nana" is popular in the Bay State, it's the grandpa nickname that's a head-scratcher.  The most popular name, according to the survey, is "Dedushka", a Russian word for grandfather.

However, many ethnic versions of "Grandma" and "Grandpa" were mentioned in the survey as well, like "Nonna" (Italian grandma), "YiaYia" (Greek grandma), and "Abuela"/"Abuelo" (Spanish grandma/grandpa).  In fact, many people say "Grandma" and "Grandpa", but actually call their grandparents by an ethnic name or other nickname, which is interesting.

In Rhode Island, nicknames are more old-school, like "Granny" and "Grandfather".

Vermonters prefer "Grandmother" and "Pop-Pop" for their favorite nicknames.

Connecticut grandparents are often called "Grammy" and "Granddad" as nicknames.

Whatever you call your grandparent, let them know how special they are on September 10, National Grandparent Day.