I just became a grandfather, why do people immediately ask "what is your new name?"

[Guffalo]

Just had our first grandchild and we are very excited, but why do people ask "what is your new name?". I think Its the same one, I think its up to the kid to decide, what my "new name" is. I was originally named Kevin, but my brother insisted on calling me "guffin" and that's how I got my name. 

[Orlando Buffalo]

Best advice I can give is recognize they mean it in the best possible way and I hope you enjoy the new kid. Congrats. 

[UConn James]

…. Because it’s something people say to make conversation about the happening.

[muppy]

MAZEL TOV . What a GIFT.

 

My BIL was called "Gah" by his grandchildren. It just stuck. He loved it . RIP Louie

 

my bestie was called by a name she hated "GUNGAH" it was what her grandson called her TO HER CHAGRIN

 

so basically I think they will call you either a cute name or traditional grandma or grandpa. Either way you are gonna hopefully be close enough to be together no matter the name they call you

 

again a tremendous GIFT just being round to meet them. 

[SinceThe70s]

Congrats my fellow LI bro! 

 

JMO but folks are asking out of respect to you. When my eldest was born my Mom (Dad had already passed) told us she wanted to be Nanie to her grandkids. I was/am 100% cool with her wishes. It was important to her, but not to me. If I'm blessed to have grandkids I won't give a flying f@ck what they call me - I'll leave that to my kid and DIL to decide.  Cool to be asked tho.

[WotAGuy]

“Ya Old Coot” is my go to.  

[LewPort71]

First off , congrats on the grandchild.  Dont worry about your new name, it will come with time. Grandkids are the best.   If we knew how great they were going to be we would have them first.   Give 'em a big hug from all of us.

signed,

pops

[Johnny Hammersticks]

My oldest named my mother “Mema” and my father “papa” when he was around 18 months old.  It just happened.  My mom wasn’t too thrilled at first, but it just stuck.  😂 

 

My in-laws already had established names when my son was born bc my wife’s sister started having kids when she was like 17.

 

Congrats

[Augie]

CONGRATS! 

 

Nothing like grandkids. You get to pick the name, so choose wisely. Our first grandchild was raised in Nashville and his caregiver was very country. My plan was to go by Papa, but it started sounding more like Paw Paw, like we were in a Hee Haw episode.  That required correction. My wife goes by Teita, which is Arabic for grandmother. It’s meaningful to her to be in a long line of Teitas. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Polish?  Dzia Dzia?

Congrats!

[Simon]

10 hours ago, Guffalo said:

Just had our first grandchild and we are very excited, but why do people ask "what is your new name?". I think Its the same one, I think its up to the kid to decide, what my "new name" is. I was originally named Kevin, but my brother insisted on calling me "guffin" and that's how I got my name. 

 

Congrats!

But people are asking you to tell them what your name is just to check whether senility is setting in.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Congrats, Pap!! 

[Sweats]

Congrats.

 

All i know is that when my nephew was growing up, he would call me "Uncle Booby".........to this day, we still don't know where he got it from or what it even means, but 30 years later, i am still ole "Uncle Booby" or if he's being lazy, it's just "Uncle Boobs".

 

.........and as a point of reference, i don't have man cans (i know someone's bringing it up)

[Just Jack]

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

My oldest named my mother “Mema” and my father “papa” when he was around 18 months old.  It just happened.  My mom wasn’t too thrilled at first, but it just stuck.  😂 

 

My in-laws already had established names when my son was born bc my wife’s sister started having kids when she was like 17.

 

One of my grandfathers was Papa, but we had two cousins, that were not the oldest, that always called him Grand Pappy.  Ask one of the cousins why one day, and it was because they called their own father Papa. So they did it to avoid confusion. 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

12 minutes ago, Sweats said:

Congrats.

 

All i know is that when my nephew was growing up, he would call me "Uncle Booby".........to this day, we still don't know where he got it from or what it even means, but 30 years later, i am still ole "Uncle Booby" or if he's being lazy, it's just "Uncle Boobs".

 

.........and as a point of reference, i don't have man cans (i know someone's bringing it up)

That’s funny.  My brother, Ben, jokingly asked my son to call him “Drunkle Ben” one family Thanksgiving.  My son (15) and my daughter (11) still to this day call him that to this day.

[Just Jack]

Gruffalo seems to be easy to say, than Guffpa. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

My father was known as 'Bumpa' to all four of his grandchildren.  My three grandchildren who live close by have carried on that name for me, but my three grandchildren who live about 6 hours away deem me 'Grandpa'.  I am eternally grateful to FaceTime for allowing me ready access to that branch of the family.

[Buffalo716]

I literally called my grandparents' Grandma and Grandpa 

 

That meemaw and pepaw stuff is so stupid imo if I'm being honest

[Augie]

4 hours ago, Just Jack said:

Gruffalo seems to be easy to say, than Guffpa. 

 

My mother’s maiden name was Drury. One of her friends had a speech impediment and she could not pronounce my mother’s last name. She spent the rest of here life going by Dewey. She’s in a nursing home now and people call her by her actual first name, and after a couple years it’s STILL weird to me. 

[CowgirlsFan]

On 2/8/2025 at 10:13 PM, Guffalo said:

Just had our first grandchild and we are very excited, but why do people ask "what is your new name?". I think Its the same one, I think its up to the kid to decide, what my "new name" is. I was originally named Kevin, but my brother insisted on calling me "guffin" and that's how I got my name. 

So that's how!  I often wondered!   My uncle couldn't say Louse it became  Weezie.   Congratulations 🎉🎈🎊 Happy and proud  on behalf of all.❤️