The first records of the word grandma come from the 1700s. The word ma is a shortening of mama, which is first recorded in the 1500s but was certainly used in speech much earlier than that. The prefix grand- is used in family terms to indicate a person who is one generation removed, as in grandparent and grandchild.

Where does Nana and Papa come from?

Nana and Papa - An alternative commonly used in the United States, Nana in particular is one of the most popular nicknames for Grandma. Abuela and Abuelo - Spanish for grandmother and grandfather, these are popular alternative names for grandparents with Spanish heritage or family traditions.

Where does OMA for grandma come from?

German: Oma is one of the most popular ethnic names for grandmother and is often used by grandmothers with no German heritage. Greek: Maybe because it just sounds joyful, the Greek YaYa is a popular grandmother nickname. It's sometimes hyphenated and sometimes rendered as YiaYia.