Grandfather names that wreck your manly image
Puggles, Grindiddy and Geezer Guy??
Exciting news: my first grandchild is on the way in a few months. It’s a boy!
This raises a question every man must face when his children have children.
What are the best grandfather names for you?
I sure hope there is more than one. The options these days can seem endless and overwhelming. Books provide help, and I list some of the best ones below.
Rarely in life do you get the opportunity to choose your name. Choose this one wisely.
What’s at stake
Whatever grandfather name the first grandchild utters usually sticks with the other grandkids and, if we live long enough, the great-grandkids.
If you get a bad grandfather name from the outset, there is not much you can do to change it. You might as well engrave it into the family tree with a Swiss Army Knife. Your name is your legacy.
Every man wants his grandson to look him in the eye one day with love, respect and, let’s be honest, hero worship.
The wrong name easily kills that dream.
Puggles?
Take, for example, “Puggles.” When I say take it, I mean take it and leave it.
Can you imagine my grandson turning to me as a sage of manly wisdom with the question, “Puggles, can I ask your advice about something?”
I think not. The lad will crack up laughing before he gets an answer. According to grandparents.com, “Puggles” is a trendy grandfather name.
- I don’t want a trendy grandfather name.
- I don’t want a popular grandfather name.
- I don’t want a modern grandfather name or a unique grandfather name.
- I want the right grandfather name — for me.
Grandfather names list
What are some other names for grandfather?
An article titled “The Ultimate Guide to Grandparent Names” has so many monikers it can make your head spin and your mouth gag. The list of grandfather names is so long I will only cite those beginning with the letter “G.” I bold what I consider the most egregious attacks on manhood:
- G-Daddy
- G-Dad, GeeDad
- G-Dawg
- G-Dog
- Geezer Guy, Geez
- G-Man
- G.P., GeePee
- Grand-D
- Grando
- Gradaddy
- Graddy
- Granda
- Grandy
- Granite
- Grandoody
- Grandude
- Grindy
- Grindiddy
Books can give you creative ideas
From the list above, I think “Granite” has a Marlboro Man quality to it, rugged and hard.
But “GeePee?”
Fortunately, there are several books on the market to help you decide.
These are not affiliate links. If you buy I’m happy I could help your quest for the right name, but I won’t get a cut of the sale.
Here are a few books you might consider (for your convenience, I don’t get paid for clicks):
- You Can Call Me Hoppa! The Grandparents’ Guide to Choosing a Name that Fits: The names and stories in this book include traditional titles, cultural appellations and names that are perfectly personal. But the most captivating collection of monikers is found in the “Out of the Mouths of Babes” section (risky!). The name that is right for you may not be contained within the pages of this book, but it might provide inspiration you need to choose a name that fits.
- The New Grandparents Name Book: Millions of Baby Boomers are becoming first-time grandparents every year, and many of them are looking for grandparenting names that don’t sound old fashioned or stodgy. With more than 700 names and name combinations, The New Grandparents Name Book makes it fun and easy to find that just-right name for one of life’s sweetest roles. Choose from trendy or playful names, heritage names, traditional options, and much more!
- The Big Book of Grandparents’ Names: This is a great resource for those brave, new grandparents whose mind doesn’t think of themselves as Grandma or Grandpa. The section on names from various nations and cultures is especially useful for those looking to honor their heritage and family history. Note: Author Jeanmarie O’Keefe-Moore is not a relative.
More pressure on Grandpas these days
Back in the day, grandfathers didn’t even think about what their grandfather name would be.
They didn’t worry about choosing the perfect grandfather name or the best grandfather name to go with a certain grandmother name.
Adding to the societal pressure of my decision, grandfather names are more creative than ever these days, with many borrowing from other cultures and traditions.
“Grandpa” or the more formal “Grandfather” can communicate a stodgy lack of imagination at best and an America-first nationalism bordering on xenophobism at worst.
It won’t be long before “Grandpa” is designated culturally insensitive “hate speech” banned on certain college campuses in California.
Don’t overlook prəˌnənsēˈāSH(ə)n
As I pulled out my yellow legal paid to do that SWOT analysis: identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, an almost entirely overlooked threat jumped off the page like a hand grenade: Pronunciation.
What good is a grandfather name if your grandson needs a speech coach to pronounce it?
Maybe “Ubabamkhulu” (see chart above) rolls off toddlers tongues in parts of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, but my sons were slow to talk and struggled at times with pronunciation, just like me.
My grandson has the same genes.
So let’s rule out Ubabamkhulu. We need to make this grandfather name easier.
You (not you, I mean the grandkids) can call me “Pops.”
To avoid any any embarrassing confusion, especially during potty training time, I am pointing out to the entire family that Pops is spelled and pronounced with one “o,” not two.
If anyone calls me Poops I’m changing my name to Puggles.
About the author: I’m a leadership coach at Fired UP After 50. It’s for midlife professionals (grandfathers, included) who want to be who they’re called to be, no matter what the grandkids call them.
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